The Story Behind the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge
- maddieh3
- Mar 15
- 4 min read
Every great event has a story behind it. For the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge, that story began with a simple idea: bring professional tennis back to Berks County and create an event that would inspire the next generation of players.
What started as a bold vision during one of the most uncertain times in sports has now grown into one of the most exciting traditions on the regional tennis calendar.
A Tournament Born During an Uncertain Time
The first tournament took place in August of 2020, when much of the sports world had come to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional tennis players around the globe were struggling to find opportunities to compete, particularly ahead of the US Open. Seeing that, Ryan Knar and David (Dave) Emkey came together with the Emkey Family and the Berks County Tennis Association to create a solution.
In just six weeks, the team organized a professional tournament at the Emkey Tennis Garden in Wyomissing, PA, launching what was then known as the Lotto Elite Pro Tennis Challenge.
Strict health protocols were in place and attendance was limited, but a small group of lucky fans witnessed something special: professional tennis returning to Berks County for the first time since 2011.
The inaugural championship match featured Denis Kudla and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, with Kudla becoming the first champion in tournament history.
More importantly, the event proved something bigger: that world-class tennis could once again thrive in Berks County.
Carrying on a Rich Local Tennis Tradition
Berks County has a long history of professional tennis events that have brought the sport’s biggest names to the area.
From the Berks County Tennis Club events to the Bachman Open, the Eagle Open, and the beloved American Red Cross Legends of Tennis, generations of tennis fans grew up watching top-level players compete locally.
For many in the community, those events helped shape their love of the game.
Today, the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge proudly carries that tradition forward, introducing a new generation of players and fans to professional tennis right here in Berks County.
Growing Year After Year
Since its debut, the tournament has continued to evolve and expand.
The event has taken on several names as new partnerships helped grow the tournament’s reach:
2020-2021: Lotto Elite Pro Tennis Challenge
2023-2024: Ellesse Pro Tennis Challenge
2025-Present: Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge
The tournament has also gained international exposure. Beginning in 2021, the event partnered with Cracked Racquets, one of the largest tennis broadcasters in the United States, allowing matches to be streamed to audiences around the world.
In 2023, the addition of the Tweener lighting system at the Emkey Tennis Garden allowed for evening matches, creating an even more exciting atmosphere for players and fans alike.
The tournament has also been featured on national platforms including Tennis Channel coverage and even a viral SportsCenter Top 10 play in 2024, when New Zealand’s KP Pannu executed an incredible between-the-legs serve followed by a between-the-legs volley.
In 2025, the tournament introduced another exciting addition with the debut of a Women’s Exhibition Match, expanding the event’s programming and giving fans the opportunity to experience even more high-level tennis. The exhibition featured Elizabeth Ionescu, who has since gone on to begin her collegiate career as a freshman at the University of Texas, facing Mariia Kozyreva. The match showcased the skill, athleticism, and competitiveness of women’s tennis while adding a new and exciting dimension to the tournament experience.
The event also featured a mixed doubles exhibition, giving fans another opportunity to see a different style of play on the court and further celebrating the diversity of the sport. Together, these additions reflected the tournament’s continued commitment to growing the game and creating new experiences for tennis fans in Berks County.
World-Class Players in Berks County
Over the years, the tournament has welcomed an impressive list of professional players from around the world, including:
Ernests Gulbis: Former ATP Top 10 player
Chris Eubanks: Wimbledon quarterfinalist and top-40 ATP player
Ryan Harrison: Former French Open doubles champion
Sumit Nagal: Former India #1 player
Hugo Gaston: Top-60 ATP player
Jan Choinski: ATP Challenger champion and two-time tournament winner
Michael Zheng: NCAA singles champion and Wimbledon Boys finalist
Ramkumar Ramanathan: David Cup player for India
These athletes, along with many others, have helped make the Pro Tennis Challenge one of the most competitive and exciting tennis events in the region.
Champions Through the Years
Each year has brought unforgettable matches and deserving champions.
Year | Champion | Finalist |
2020 | Denis Kudla (USA) | Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (USA) |
2021 | Mukund Sasikumar (India) | Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) |
2022 | Sumit Nagal (India) | Michael Zheng (USA) |
2023 | Filip Misolic (Austria) | Michael Zheng (USA) |
2024 | Jan Choinski (Great Britain) | Alexis Galarneau (Canada) |
2025 | Jan Choinski (Great Britain) | Billy Harris (Great Britain) |
A Tournament That Gives Back
From the beginning, the Pro Tennis Challenge has always been about more than just competition. Each year, the tournament partners with organizations that help strengthen the community and grow the game of tennis.
Recent beneficiaries have included:
COR Tennis Program (2022 - 2024): Supporting youth tennis opportunities in the City of Reading
ACES for Antietam (2023): Raising funds to help rebuild the Antietam High School tennis program after devastating floods
IM ABLE Foundation (2025 - present): Supporting adaptive sports and wheelchair tennis initiatives
These partnerships highlight the event’s commitment to using tennis as a platform for positive change.
Looking Toward the Future
What began as a six-week effort to bring tennis back during a difficult time has now grown into an annual tradition.
Today, the Performance Volvo Cars Pro Tennis Challenge stands as the only professional men’s tennis event in Pennsylvania, drawing elite players, passionate fans, and community partners together each summer.
Through the continued partnership between the Emkey Family, the Berks County Tennis Association, Performance Volvo Cars, and the IM ABLE Foundation, the tournament looks poised to grow even further in the years ahead.
And, as it does, it will continue doing what it set out to do from the very beginning: bring world-class tennis to Berks County while making a meaningful impact in the community.
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