Charlotte is about to witness an extraordinary event as four of the top tennis players in the sport are all set to face off in the Charlotte Invitational on Friday at the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte. Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Frances Tiafoe, and the reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz are all scheduled to participate in an exhibition doubleheader. This is a moment that tennis enthusiasts in Charlotte have been eagerly awaiting.

Bringing High-Profile Tennis to Charlotte

According to Danny Morrison, the executive director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, "Anytime a high-profile event comes to Charlotte, Charlotte shows up." The nonprofit has been working hard for the past year to make this concept a reality. Hannah Butler, the CSF Director of Operations, emphasizes the intricacies involved. "There are so many details to consider when it comes to each sport, especially when it's the best athletes. Their expectations are extremely high as they've played at some of the most magnificent venues." Butler's role is to recreate that elite environment within the Spectrum Center, and she'll have the support of tennis experts like IMG. They know precisely how many tennis balls and towels are needed, as well as all the various vendors required to transform a basketball arena or concert venue into a tennis court. It's a process that has been in motion for months, and the physical transformation inside the Spectrum Center will commence on Friday morning.

Preparing the Spectrum Center

The arena is truly going above and beyond. They have a Hornets game today, followed by a conversion day tomorrow, a concert on Thursday, our event on Friday, and another Hornets game on Saturday. They might even have more activities after that. Once the process begins, laying down the court becomes a meticulous task. There can't be a single divot on the concrete to ensure the court is perfectly flat and the ball bounces just right every time. This attention to detail is crucial for a top-notch tennis experience.

History of Tennis at the Spectrum Center

In 2006, Serena and Venus Williams faced off in an exhibition match at the former Bobcats Arena. This shows that there has been a long-standing interest in tennis in Charlotte. Morrison notes, "(There's) been plenty of interest in Charlotte for tennis over the years, so it'll be a full house and an exciting venue. We look forward to maybe doing some additional tennis in the future." This event is set to add another chapter to the history of tennis in Charlotte.

You can watch the Charlotte Invitational live on TV64 at 7 p.m. Friday. We'll also have the Spanish broadcast on our sister station, Telemundo Charlotte.