WEEKEND BEST BET: Sarasota Open

The future of American tennis will be on display when some of the world’s top tennis players hit the courts for Southwest Florida’s premiere professional tennis event.

The seventh annual Sarasota Open begins Saturday, at the Resort at Longboat Key Club’s Tennis Gardens Stadium. The tournament, which continually draws some of the top names on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour, has drawn more than 30,000 spectators in past years.

This year’s tournament will begin with qualifying rounds April 12 and April 13, followed by the main draw April 14 to April 18. Women’s and men’s singles finals, as well as the doubles finals, will be held April 19 and April 20.

Tickets are $5 to $10 (qualifying round); $20 to $40 (main draw); $50 to $100 (finals); $150 (general admission pass). Parking is $5 on the resort property, however, a tram service be available outside the resort.

James Blake, who is ranked in the top four and won the tournament in 2011, 2012 champion Sam Querrey and NCAA doubles champions Jarmere Jenkins and Mack Styslinger will be among those in this year’s field vying for $100,000.

“It’s a unique opportunity locally to watch some world class tennis, and to see some young players who will be the next (Rafael) Nadal or (Novak) Djokovic,” Sarasota Open CEO Tony Driscoll says. “You really get to see the speed of the ball that you don’t get to see on TV.”

The tournament runs through April 20. For more information, visit sarasotaopen.org.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].