Memphis ATP Tournament Renamed U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships

The ATP tournament in Memphis is "receiving a new name: The U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships," according to Kyle Veazey of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Event owner Sharks Sports & Entertainment said that the new name is "part of a long-term branding initiative." SSE Exec VP/Business Operations Michael Lehr said that the company "is in 'active discussions with over half a dozen' potential naming or presenting sponsors for the event, but that the 'Indoor' moniker will remain a constant regardless of who sponsors it." The '13 event is scheduled for Feb. 18-24. The men's event was most recently known as the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. The '13 event is "the last for Memphis as a 500-level event on the ATP Tour." Beginning in '14, it will be "a 250-level event, the tour's lowest level." The re-branding will "coincide with a new marketing campaign touting 'Tennis Week in Memphis'" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 11/22).