NEW HAVEN— Pro tennis returns to Connecticut this weekend when the Oracle Challenger Series

opens play at the Yale Tennis Center. The tournament, which, unlike its predecessor, the Connecticut Open, will feature both a men’s and women’s bracket. (The Connecticut Open was strictly a WTA event that was sold and moved to Asia. The Oracle-New Haven will be played from Sept. 2-8, and will be headlined by 32 Americans,

including former ATP Tour Top 10 player Jack Sock ; 2019 Citi Open singles champion Jessica Pegula ; and Oracle Challenger Series Houston Champion Bradley Klahn

Jennifer Brady , a finalist at the 2019 Series finale at Indian Wells; the always popular Christina McHale , a former Top 25 singles player; and two-time Series doubles champion Taylor Townsend . They will be challenged by a strong international pool of competitors including Monica Niculescu (ROU), who has accumulated three singles and nine doubles titles on Tour; Barbora Krejcikova (CZE), who captured the Roland Garros and Wimbledon doubles titles in 2018; Daria Gavrilova (AUS), former Connecticut Open champion (2017); and Margarita Gasparyan (RUS), current World No. 59 and two-time WTA title winner. World No. 56 Pegula leads the women’s field where she will be joined by World No. 70, a finalist at the 2019 Series finale at Indian Wells; the always popular, a former Top 25 singles player; and two-time Series doubles champion. They will be challenged by a strong international pool of competitors including(ROU), who has accumulated three singles and nine doubles titles on Tour;(CZE), who captured the Roland Garros and Wimbledon doubles titles in 2018;(AUS), former Connecticut Open champion (2017); and(RUS), current World No. 59 and two-time WTA title winner.

Denis Istomin , the 2018 Chicago champion. World No. 79 Steve Johnson , a four-time ATP Tour singles winner, will make his Oracle Challenger Series debut. American Donald Young ’s performance in the Oracle Challenger Series last year included semifinal appearances in both Chicago and Indian Wells, allowing him to capture one of the two wild card spots into the BNP Paribas Open, offered to the top two men’s and women’s players that accumulate the most points throughout the Series. 2019 Indian Wells doubles champion and Series veteran Marcos Giron will make his 5th Series appearance. Chilean Nicholas Jarry , who has registered two Top 10 wins this season, enters the field, along with ATP Tour No. 60 Cameron Norrie . On the men’s side, the field is highlighted by Klahn, the 2018 Houston champion and, the 2018 Chicago champion. World No. 79, a four-time ATP Tour singles winner, will make his Oracle Challenger Series debut. American’s performance in the Oracle Challenger Series last year included semifinal appearances in both Chicago and Indian Wells, allowing him to capture one of the two wild card spots into the BNP Paribas Open, offered to the top two men’s and women’s players that accumulate the most points throughout the Series. 2019 Indian Wells doubles champion and Series veteranwill make his 5th Series appearance. Chilean, who has registered two Top 10 wins this season, enters the field, along with ATP Tour No. 60

JC Aragone (2019), Christopher Eubanks (2018) and Francesca Di Lorenzo (2018) will also compete in the main draw at New Haven. The award, given out annually at the BNP Paribas Open, provides $100,000 grants to one male and one female professional who demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship and an aptitude for success on the pro tour. The remaining spots in the draws will be filled by wild cards, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Oracle US Tennis Award recipients(2019),(2018) and(2018) will also compete in the main draw at New Haven. The award, given out annually at the BNP Paribas Open, provides $100,000 grants to one male and one female professional who demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship and an aptitude for success on the pro tour. The remaining spots in the draws will be filled by wild cards, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Admission to the Oracle Challenger Series is free. Parking is available onsite for $10 per car. The first stop on the 2019-2020 Road to Indian Wells will bring professional tennis back to New Haven, signifying the first pro event hosted in the area since the departure of the WTA-sanctioned Connecticut Open in 2018. All matches will be played at the Yale Tennis Varsity Courts located at 279 Derby Ave, West Haven.. Parking is available onsite for $10 per car.

James Blake ; 2003 U.S. Open Champion and former World No. 1 Andy Roddick ; former World No. 2 Tommy Haas ; and two-time Davis Cup titlist and former World No. 8 Mark Philippoussis . Tickets are available at Additionally, the Series’ inaugural 2019-2020 tournament will feature the Oracle Champions Cup, an Invesco Series QQQ event, on Sat., Sept. 7. The one-night tournament is part of the competitive circuit featuring legendary tennis icons and world-renowned champions, and will be headlined by Fairfield, Connecticut native and former World No. 4; 2003 U.S. Open Champion and former World No. 1; former World No. 2; and two-time Davis Cup titlist and former World No. 8. Tickets are available at https://www.invescoseries.com

The 2019-2020 Oracle Challenger Series will continue in Houston on November 10-17, 2019, with additional stops to be announced in the coming months. The Challenger Series culminates at the 2020 BNP Paribas Open, the largest ATP Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The tournament is recruiting ball persons and volunteers for the event in New Haven. Those wishing to participate should email ballkids@oraclechallengerseries.com.

For a complete list of players competing in the Oracle, click HERE To purchase tickets, click HERE .

—with staff reports