The Cranbrook Tennis Classic is returning to metro Detroit with a bigger profile, a stronger player field and national television coverage.
Following its recognition as the 2025 ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year, the Bloomfield Hills tournament will return July 19–26 at Cranbrook Schools. The event has been elevated to ATP Challenger 125 status, bringing increased prize money, expanded fan experiences and a wider spotlight to one of the ATP Challenger Tour’s fastest-rising stops.
The 2026 tournament will offer $230,000 in prize money and is expected to feature players from more than 20 countries. It will also receive national and international coverage on Tennis Channel.
Founded by DonerColle Executive Chairman David DeMuth, who serves as tournament chair, the Cranbrook Tennis Classic has quickly grown into a major professional tennis event in just three years. The tournament is operated by nonprofit Tennis Forward, with all profits benefiting Palmer Park Tennis Academy in Detroit and Cranbrook Schools.
To date, the tournament has donated more than $100,000 to community programs supporting youth development through tennis.
“One of the most important forces in sports, business, and community building is momentum, and the Cranbrook Tennis Classic continues to build momentum at every level,” said DeMuth. “To be named ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year in just our third year is an incredible honor. We’ve built something that not only brings world-class tennis to Detroit but also creates meaningful opportunities for people in our community.”
The tournament has already established itself as a proving ground for rising international talent. Alumni include Learner Tien, Ethan Quinn, Alexander Blockx and NCAA champions Michael Zheng and Eliot Spizzirri. More than 30 current ATP Top 150 players have competed in the event.
Beyond the competition, this year’s Cranbrook Tennis Classic will feature expanded community and fan programming, including youth clinics led by professional players, opportunities for children from underserved communities to attend matches, a wheelchair tennis exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of wheelchair tennis, and mental health-focused programming with a visiting performance coach.
The event will also include expanded seating and hospitality experiences, food trucks and lifestyle activations throughout tournament week.
The tournament is also deepening its connection to Detroit’s creative and cultural communities. This year’s championship trophy is being designed by Ian McDonald, a Cranbrook Academy of Art artist-in-residence and head of ceramics, creating a link between sports, art and design.
Last year, the tournament welcomed more than 5,000 fans and generated significant digital engagement as interest in professional tennis continues to grow across the U.S.
The Cranbrook Tennis Classic is supported by sponsors including Burns & Wilcox, Taft Law, Children’s Foundation of Michigan, 123NET, Employment Boost, Oppenheimer Funds, Feldman Automotive, David Klein Gallery and Ray’s Ice Cream, among others.
Hosted at Cranbrook Educational Community, a National Historic Landmark known internationally for its architecture and design legacy, the tournament combines elite competition with one of the country’s most distinctive sporting settings.
With ATP Challenger 125 status, Tennis Channel coverage and continued community investment, the Cranbrook Tennis Classic enters 2026 with momentum, and a growing role in bringing world-class tennis to metro Detroit.
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