From Oct. 1-4, tennis players from across North Carolina will descend on Fayetteville and the Sandhills as the area co-hosts the 2026 USTA North Carolina Singles State Championship. Fayetteville and Pinehurst will share hosting duties for the four-day championship, with matches spread among 13 tennis facilities in Cumberland and Moore counties. Eight of those facilities are in the Fayetteville area, giving local tennis fans several opportunities to see championship-level competition close to home.
The tournament is expected to attract approximately 800 players, family members, and fans to the region, according to the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. In addition to the competition on the courts, those visitors are expected to generate overnight stays and spending at area hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The championship also provides an opportunity to showcase Fayetteville's investment in recreational and competitive tennis facilities, particularly the newly opened Courts at Glenville Lake.
Located at 730 Filter Plant Drive, the complex features 11 tennis courts, including a championship court, along with four pickleball courts. The facility will be among the Cumberland County locations hosting matches during the state championship.
“We are thrilled to welcome the USTA North Carolina Singles Championship to Cumberland County,” Robert Cox, director of sales for the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said when the championship was announced.
Cox also pointed to the Courts at Glenville Lake as a highlight for visiting players and said the community's hotels, restaurants, and attractions are prepared to welcome tournament visitors.
"The newly opened Courts at Glenville Lake are sure to be a highlight for participants. From our hotels, restaurants, and attractions, we look forward to delivering a memorable experience."
Fayetteville will serve primarily as the home for the tournament's 18 & Over men's and women's divisions and the 40 & Over women's division. Pinehurst will primarily host the 40 & Over men's and 55 & Over men's and women's divisions. USTA North Carolina notes that some teams may play a match in the other host community, although organizers plan to keep most matches within each division's primary location.
In Fayetteville, competition is scheduled to take place at the Courts at Glenville Lake, Tokay Park, Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Fayetteville Academy, Highland Country Club, Methodist University, Cape Fear High School and Terry Sanford High School.
The tournament will make use of both hard and clay courts. Glenville Lake Park, Tokay Park, Fayetteville Academy, Methodist University, Cape Fear High School and Terry Sanford High School are listed as hard-court locations, while Highland Country Club is listed as a clay-court venue.
Matches in the Pinehurst area will be held at the Country Club of North Carolina, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst No. 9, Legacy Lakes Tennis and Fitness in Aberdeen and the Lawn and Tennis Club in Pinehurst. All five are listed by USTA North Carolina as clay-court sites.
The championship arrives at a time when Fayetteville has been investing in its public racquet-sports facilities. In addition to the opening of the Courts at Glenville Lake, the city recently completed a $744,382 renovation at Tokay Park. The project replaced six aging tennis courts with three new tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts. City officials have specifically cited facilities such as Glenville Lake and Tokay Park as part of Fayetteville's ability to attract competitive sporting events.
Hosting a tournament of this size has an impact that extends beyond the baseline. With players and their families traveling from communities around North Carolina, the championship creates an opportunity to introduce visitors to Fayetteville's restaurants, attractions, and businesses while strengthening the area's presence in the sports-tourism market.
USTA North Carolina, founded in 1973, is the state affiliate of the United States Tennis Association. The nonprofit organization works to promote and develop tennis throughout North Carolina and administers programs for players of varying ages and ability levels.
The 2026 Singles State Championship runs Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4. Tournament schedules are expected to be published Sept. 24, with additional information for participants scheduled for release Sept. 28.
For tournament schedules, standings, and additional championship information, visit USTA North Carolina's Singles State Championship page at https://www.nctennis.com/singlestournament.

(Photo: The Courts at Glenville Lake will serve as a location for the 2026 USTA North Carolina Singles State Championship in October. Photo courtesy of the City of Fayetteville)