Event News and Press

USTA Pro Circuit Challenger Returns to Knoxville
Professional Tennis Event to Draw World-Ranked Players

Knoxville, Tenn. – August 30, 2009 – The Knoxville Challenger, presented by Pilot Oil Corporation, will return to the Knoxville community on November 9-14. A USTA Pro Circuit event, the Knoxville Challenger has a proven track record of drawing the new wave of top tennis athletes and will offer $50,000 in prize money.

This 6-day men’s professional tennis event will be held at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center on the University of Tennessee campus. The event, which has played a part in careers of many notable players, including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and James Blake,  was designed to enable rising stars to earn ATP ranking points.

“We are thrilled to present this event to the Knoxville community once again this year. This promises to be an exciting community event with great sponsors, great food and, most of all, great tennis,” said Howard Z. Blum, Tournament Director of The Knoxville Challenger. “We are also pleased that the event will not only pay tribute to Harry Stowers, but will also significantly benefit The Helen Ross McNabb Center and its patients.”

All proceeds of the Knoxville Challenger will benefit The Helen Ross McNabb Center, a regional not-for-profit organization that has provided quality and compassionate mental health care, addiction and recovery and social services to those in need within the Knoxville community since 1948.

The event will also be in honor of the late Harry Stowers, whose life, work, commitment and passion for The Helen Ross McNabb Center were all of significant benefit to the entire community.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to help bring such a great sporting event to Knoxville,” said Jim Haslam of Pilot Oil Corporation, the event’s presenting sponsor. “The Knoxville Challenger consistently brings great tennis athletes to the area, and will inspire and entertain both new and seasoned lovers of the game. Combine that with the fact that the event will help a great local charity it is a great way for Pilot to continue to be part of our community. ”

Months prior to the event, the Knoxville Challenger has already seen tremendous community support, and the event’s Sponsorship Committee has surpassed their sponsorship goals by raising over $135,000 thus far.

Besides the generous sponsorship provided by Pilot Oil, other major sponsors for the Knoxville Challenger include All Occasions Catering, Cherokee Distributing, The Crown Plaza, Pyxl, Rather & Kittrell Capital Management, Stowers Machinery and Vulcan Materials.

For more information on the Knoxville Challenger, visit www.knoxchallenger.com or contact Howard Blum at (865) 329 9062 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the Knoxville Challenger
The Challenger Series is a part of the USTA’s Pro Circuit series which is designed to provide opportunities to aspiring young American tennis prodigies to advance to the top levels of the game. The three current top-ranked American players, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mardy Fish all competed in the Knoxville Challenger as they were climbing the world rankings. These Challenger level events, hosting national and international players, take place all around the globe and typically include players ranked between 75 and 250 in the world. These pros will compete for a total purse of $50,000 in prize money and for ATP ranking points.