Dallas To Host ATP 250 Tournament Beginning In 2022

DALLAS (May 19, 2022) – GF Sports & Entertainment, a global sports and entertainment events and operations company, announced today that it is bringing an ATP 250 men's tennis tournament to the top-tier Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at SMU in Dallas, beginning in 2022.

The Dallas Open, held February 6-13, 2022, will feature over 60 world-class ATP Tour professionals and be televised worldwide to more than 100 countries. It will be the only ATP Tour indoor championship in the United States, and one of only 10 total states-side events.

The tournament, previously held as the New York Open, is one of the longest-running American tournaments on the ATP Tour. Its rich history features some of the top names in tennis, including legends John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, and Andy Murray, and a current generation of stars like Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and Reilly Opelka.

"GF Sports & Entertainment is proud to bring the Dallas Open, an elite ATP Tour tournament, to the premier Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex in Dallas, beginning in 2022," said Peter Lebedevs, Tournament Director, Dallas Open. "The Dallas Open will shine a global spotlight on the city and be much more than a one-week tennis tournament. In addition to entertainment programming and unique experiential opportunities throughout the tournament, our partnership with SMU and commitment to the community will be year-round and include business, community, tennis initiatives and events. We would like to thank the City of Dallas, our partners at SMU and the ATP for the incredible support during this process to help us bring this world-class tennis event to a world-class city."

The Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex opened in 2015 and is a preeminent, top-tier facility with both indoor and outdoor courts as well as a training center. The Dallas Open marks the return of ATP Tour level tennis to Dallas for the first time since 1989. The World Championship of Tennis Finals were held in Dallas from 1971-89. The tournament was held at SMU's Moody Coliseum for nine years from 1971-79 before moving to Reunion Arena in 1980, until the final year in 1989.

The Dallas Open will serve as the ultimate entertainment experience for tennis enthusiasts and sports fans in the region. The week-long Dallas Open tournament will showcase top men's singles and doubles talent as well as highlight local youth and collegiate tennis teams as part of GF Sports & Entertainment's commitment to growing the sport and building up the next generation of players. The event will also provide unique interactive opportunities for the business community, with customized platforms for corporate brands to engage with attendees and the community in a meaningful way and entertain with up close hospitality experiences.

The Dallas Open and GF Sports & Entertainment will have a year-round presence in Dallas, including community events and initiatives, partnerships with local business and tennis organizations, as well as support for local youth athletics. The Isner Family Foundation, established by 15-time ATP Tour Champion John Isner and his family, will serve as a non-profit partner for the event. The Isner Family Foundation provides financial support for qualified families to obtain necessities, such as meals, clothing, transportation, convenient lodging, car seats and medical supplies, while their children are under the care of Children's Health, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas.

In addition to the Dallas Open, GF Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Truist Atlanta Open, another ATP 250 tournament. GF Sports & Entertainment has retained Spectra Partnerships to lead sponsorship sales for the Dallas Open.

The waitlist for Dallas Open premium hospitality and tickets is now live. Fans can visit www.dallasopen.com to join the priority waitlist, and follow the event on social media @DALOpenTennis for all future updates.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT:

John Isner, 15-Time ATP Tour Champion and Dallas Resident:

"I am excited to have an ATP Tour event in my home city and to show off Dallas to the other players on the tour. The Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex is a premier venue, the players are really going to enjoy playing there in front of a knowledgeable tennis crowd. I am also proud to have the Isner Family Foundation be one of the non-profit partners for the Dallas Open, and looking forward to the positive impact the event will have on the local community."

Andrea Gaudenzi, Chairman, ATP:

"It's exciting to have ATP Tour tennis coming to Dallas, a city with such a rich sporting culture and strong roots in tennis. This is an important opportunity for tennis to continue engaging its passionate American fanbase and we look forward to watching the Dallas Open establish itself in its new home from next season."

Rick Hart, Athletic Director, SMU:

"Our commitment to competing for championships and enhancing the student-athlete experience has required investments in our facilities, something made possible by the generous support of our donors. Because of these gifts, we have been able to build some of the finest facilities in the country, including the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, Turpin Stadium and Brookshire Family Pavilion. Having a campus asset like this allows us to host a premier ATP Tour tennis event and bring top-level professional tennis back to Dallas at the Hilltop."

Monica Paul, Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission:

"The Dallas Sports Commission is incredibly proud to partner with GF Sports & Entertainment and ATP to launch the 2022 Dallas Open. We are excited to host world-class play at the premier Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, as the tournament grows roots in Texas and provides fresh opportunities for players and fans."

About GF Sports & Entertainment

GF Sports & Entertainment is a global events and operations company that elevates the experience of live sports, entertainment and interactive events. The company owns two of the ATP Tour's longest running American tennis tournaments, the Dallas Open and the Truist Atlanta Open, as well as the National Lacrosse League New York Riptide. In partnership with the American Kennel Club (AKC), the leading registry and governing body of canine events in the United States, they operate the AKC Meet the Breeds® touring show. GF Sports & Entertainment also incubates new and emerging sport concepts, this includes Wolf Pack Ninjas, which operates ninja-focused events globally.

GF Sports & Entertainment was founded in July 2015 by New York-based private equity firm GF Capital. For additional information, please visit www.gfsportsandentertainment.com.

About The ATP

As the global governing body of men's professional tennis, the ATP's mission is to serve tennis. We entertain a billion global fans, showcase the world's greatest players at the most prestigious tournaments, and inspire the next generation of fans and players. From the ATP Cup in Australia, to Europe, the Americas and Asia, the stars of the game battle for titles and FedEx ATP Rankings points at ATP Masters 1000, 500 and 250 events, and Grand Slams. All roads lead towards the Nitto ATP Finals, the prestigious season finale held in Turin, Italy. Featuring only the world's top 8 qualified singles players and doubles teams, the tournament also sees the official crowning of the year-end ATP World No. 1, the ultimate achievement in tennis. For more information, please visit www.ATPTour.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Stacey Escudero

GF Sports & Entertainment

stacey@se-communications.com / 917-572-2534