Bitsy Grant reopens with 2 tournaments

The renovated kicks off a new era with a series of festivities and two significant tennis tournaments.

The historic tennis center will be the host site of the 94th American Tennis Association National Championships, the first national tournament at Bitsy Grant since 1988, according to news release. With 1,000 players, the tournament will be held July 31-Aug. 5 at different tennis sites around the city, with Bitsy Grant the main location.

An opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for Bitsy Grant’s $1.3 million renovation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, in connection with the ATA tournament, whose entries are filled. The Friends of Bitsy Grant raised money for the renovation of the tennis center, built in 1952.

Then, the Georgia State Adult/Senior Open Tennis Championship, for which registration is still open, will be held at Bitsy Grant from Aug. 6-9. The event includes a family fun festival at Bitsy Grant Aug. 6-7.

Also that weekend, the gala Bitsy Open party will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug 6 in a tent in the tennis center’s parking lot. The dress for the '50s themed “Peach of a Party” will be tennis whites, and "Bitsy sours" will be sipped. Tickets for the gala are $100, benefiting the Friends of Bitsy Grant.