Scott Grimmett, president of Safeway’s Denver division, loves to play tennis. Randy Ross knows how to manage a tennis tournament, and four-time Denver City Open champion Cory Ross has competed in a handful during his life.
When the trio shared ideas years ago as members of the Colorado Athletic Club Inverness, they organized Colorado’s biggest prize-money tennis tournament: the $25,000 Safeway Foundation Men’s Open.
“It started off as simple as: ‘Hey, Scott? What do you think about Safeway sponsoring a prize-money tennis tournament?’ ” said Randy Ross, describing the casual conversations in the gym’s hallway. “And he would say, ‘Hmm, maybe.’ “
By 2008, that maybe became a yes.
The third-annual $25,000 Safeway Foundation Men’s Open is scheduled for Wednesday-Sunday. The tournament is drawing 35 players from Colorado and across the country, including California, Arizona, Oregon and Florida. The winner will earn $25,000, and the runner-up will receive $8,000.
“Obviously, it’s a big purse,” said Nick Monroe, the No. 1 seed. “There are some good players, and you just try to put yourself in a good position to do well.”
After the grassroots tournament secured a sponsor, the next task was to find a venue — and the organizers had no better place to look than their own gym. Cory Ross, who played collegiately at Louisiana State, utilized his relationships to promote the tournament. Soon, players from across the country were interested in the level of competition and the big payoff.
“This is the closest you can get to a pro tournament without ATP points,” said Cory Ross, the tournament director who will compete in the event. “It’s going to be the best tennis in Colorado for the third straight year.”
The potential for the tournament’s growth in Colorado is great — a testament to the state’s weather and growing interest in tennis. Cory Ross and his father have a vision that the $25,000 Safeway Foundation Men’s Open will be added to the Association of Tennis Professionals tour one day, but the event must reach the challenger level before consideration.
“Our goal in the future is to continue to grow this tournament and improve it in all aspects,” Cory Ross said. “We really want to take it to the point where we are getting ATP, big-name players in Denver.”
Colorado doesn’t have a pro tournament, but with increased exposure and the influx of top players, a few conversations at the gym could reach the ultimate goal.
“It’s something that Denver deserves and needs,” Randy Ross said. “That’s basically the reason Cory and I started this and, with Safeway and the club’s help, people can look forward to the Safeway tournament every July.”
Shemar Woods: 303-954-1609 or swoods@denverpost.com
