Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center hosting 30th Banana Open this weekend

Hundreds of tennis players will meet at Palmetto Dunes this weekend for the 30th annual Palmetto Dunes Resort Banana Open Challenge.

The tournament, which hosts 265 players from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, is in its 30th year, and is one of several “Banana Opens” and challenges hosted throughout the southeast since the founding event in 1980 at Virginia Beach.

The events got their name from the sponsorship efforts of “Banana” Bob Rogers, president of Norfolk Banana Wholesalers at the time. An event was created on Hilton Head Island in 1984, with manifestations continuing today.

In June, Palmetto Dunes hosted a Banana Open qualifier, one of many that send participants to the October tournament.

The event features singles, doubles and mixed doubles play and is free to attend. Play begins Friday morning.

This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center hosting 30th Banana Open this weekend."