Pro Link Live to Manage 2019 RBC Pro Challenge at Tyler Athletic & Swim Club

Cliff Drysdale Management has selected Pro Link Live to direct the 2019 RBC Pro Challenge, an $80K USTA Pro Circuit event hosted at Tyler Athletic and Swim Club. The third edition of the tournament will be held October 27 – November 3.

Pro Link Live, an Austin, Texas based special event, media and promotions company, has extensive experience producing world class tennis events throughout the United States. They have directed dozens of USTA Pro Circuit events, as well as celebrity exhibitions with some of the biggest names in tennis.  

Pro Link Live will manage event operations, sponsorship, and promotions in conjunction with Cliff Drysdale-managed team at Tyler Athletic and Swim Club. Israel Castillo has been named the new Tournament Director.

“We are very excited to have the Pro Link Live team on board to manage the RBC Pro Challenge,” said Scott McCulloch, Vice President of Operations for Cliff Drysdale Management. “The tournament has become a staple on the calendar of East Texas sports fans each fall. I’m confident in the tournament’s continued growth with an experienced tournament director like Israel at the helm.”

Former players of the RBC Pro Challenge include 2018 champion Whitney Osuigwe, 2017 runner up Danielle Collins, Belinda Bencic, Nicole Gibbs and Sofia Kenin amongst others. The event plays a crucial role in the USTA’s Australian Open Wild Card Challenge each fall. The singles champion in Tyler each of the last two years (Kristie Ahn ’17 and Osuigwe ’18) have received wild card entry into the Australian Open.

More details regarding the 2019 tournament will be announced soon.

For tournament inquiries and sponsorship, contact Israel Castillo at: Israel@prolinklive.net

For media inquiries, contact Joey Hanf at: j.hanf@cliffdrysdale.com

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About the USTA Pro Circuit

With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $15,000 to $125,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit 38 years ago to provide players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering more than $3 million in prize money. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women from more than 70 countries competed in cities nationwide. Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Kei Nishikori, Victoria Azarenka, and Sam Querrey are among today's top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

About Pro Link Live

ProLink Live is a special event, media, and promotions company. Established in Austin, Texas in 1996, ProLink has produced over 50 ATP Tour/USTA professional events throughout the United States as well special events with such tennis icons as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and the Bryan Brothers. ProLink's original music productions have featured such great artist as Willie Nelson, Clint Black, Jerry Jeff Walker, Tracy Lawrence, Los Lonely Boys, Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Mike Mills (REM), Kellie Pickler and Gavin Degraw. Most importantly, ProLink has had the honor to produce events for great organizations such as The Bush-Clinton Relief Fund, Elton John Aids Foundation, Andy Roddick Foundation, Willie Nelson-Neighborhood Longhorns and The Children of Fallen Soldiers Fund. For more information, visitwww.prolinklive.net

About Cliff Drysdale Management

Founded in 2001 by International Tennis Hall of Fame member Cliff Drysdale and partner Don Henderson, specializes in daily tennis and fitness operations and management for resorts, hotels and private clubs; sports design and construction consultation for companies interested in building world-class facilities; educational programs, summer camps, clinics and retreats; and resort, hotel corporate outing planning and leisure operations. CDM is dedicated to growing the game of tennis and strives to develop, promote and teach new programs that bring more tennis to more people. As the sport continues to grow, as does the CDM commitment to hire, educate and advance talented tennis professionals that provide service excellence both on and off the court. Cliff Drysdale Management’s property portfolio currently boasts 30 tennis facilities nationwide, including multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal ranked tennis resorts on Tennis Resorts Online’s Top 100 list. In July 2018, Troon®, the leader in club management, development, and marketing acquired Cliff Drysdale Management. The acquisition brings together two influential sports management companies that have been excelling at locations around the world for more than two decades.  For more information, visit www.cliffdrysdale.com