A former Grand Slam champ, the potential for bigger events, and more storylines for the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open
What does hosting this mean for Penn? Who's in the field? And will the Philly Open be back next year?
For the first time in two decades, the WTA is coming to Philadelphia with the Ennoble Care Philly Open. The 125-level tournament will bring 14 of the WTA’s top 100 players, a former Grand Slam champion, and a few local risers to the Hamlin Tennis Center at the University of Pennsylvania, just one week before the U.S. Open kicks off in New York.
Here are a few storylines to watch heading into the tournament ...
What does hosting this tournament mean for Penn?
Penn has been trying to host a professional tennis tournament for a while now, coach Sanela Kunovac told The Inquirer. Since Penn’s tennis center opened in 2011, Kunovac has been hoping to host a professional tournament at the facility, but each year, struggled to get even a smaller level tournament off the ground.
Hosting the tournament this year is a “wonderful surprise.”
“Our facility is one of the nicest facilities in the Northeast, 12 beautiful courts with the view of the city,” Kunovac said. “I know I’m biased, but I would say one of the most beautiful views of the city is from the tennis facility. I also think Penn loves sports. … It was only natural for us to try to bring an amazing tennis tournament to the facility that I think is just world class.”
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Top Penn singles player Esha Velaga will receive a qualifying wild card for the event, with the chance to win a match to earn entry into the main draw. Velaga qualified for the NCAA singles championship this year, but this is her first opportunity to compete in a professional tournament of this caliber. In addition, the Penn tennis freshmen, who moved in a week prior, will be available as hitting and practice partners for the pros.
“There’s 14 players who are top 100 in the world who are going to be playing this tournament,” Kunovac said. “To be able to be a sparring partner of somebody who is at that level because our players are going to be on campus, it’s really hard to imagine what other opportunity you can have, other than at your school, to be rubbing shoulders with players at that level.”
Could Philadelphia one day host a bigger event?
Three of Hamlin’s 12 outdoor courts are being used to build a center court with a 1,200-person capacity for the Philly Open. For a larger event, seating capacity can vary significantly. At the Memphis Classic, which is a WTA 250 event, one step up from the WTA 125 event Philly is hosting, center court capacity was 2,000. For an even larger event, like the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, which is a combined ATP/WTA 500, center court holds 7,000 spectators.
The Philadelphia Sisters, organizers of the Philly Open, told The Inquirer that they would be interested in bringing a larger tennis event to Philly. A larger 250- or 500-level event could bring bigger-name players to Philly. With the establishment of the Saudi Masters in 2028, the ATP is buying back lower-level tournaments, as opposed to adding more, so it’s unlikely in the short-term that a major men’s event could come to the area, but a larger WTA event could be more realistic.
How sustainable is this event?
In 2022, the WTA brought a 125-level tournament to Paris the week before Roland-Garros. Since then, the tournament has begun to attract high-level players looking for a tuneup, with the 2026 lineup including multiple top-25 players at the time in Madison Keys and Leylah Fernandez.
The timing of the Philly Open, one week before the U.S. Open, combined with Philadelphia’s proximity to New York, places it in a similar position on the calendar. The only other WTA tournament occurring concurrently is the Monterrey Open, a WTA 500-level tournament with an entry list that includes Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková and Roland-Garros finalist Maja Chwalinská.
But the Philly Open also has 14 top-100 players and a former Grand Slam champion in the draw, far more than the average 125, which shows that the location and timing already are attractive for players. The Philadelphia Sisters have a three-year deal to host the tournament, with the potential for extension, so it will return in 2027.
The actual tennis
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, is probably the most famous name in the draw. After suffering a stress fracture in her right foot last year, Stephens is mounting a return to tennis while also working as a commentator. In Cincinnati, Stephens reached the third round before falling, 7-5, 7-5, to world No. 11 Marta Kostyuk, and she’s looking to continue that run of good form in preparation for the U.S. Open.
Another name to watch is 21-year-old American Robin Montgomery, who won her first tour-level title earlier this year at the Libéma Open, earning her way into the top 200. Injury issues have held her back at the senior level, but she has big potential to work her way into the top 100.
Velaga and 18-year-old Wilmington native Capucine Jauffret, who will be a freshman at Florida this year, earned qualifying wild cards and will play on Sunday.
