Vellek is the perfect man to run point for The MarketBeat Open, because he knows the game and he knows the region exceptionally well. A college tennis player at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Vellek drifted away from the sport in his professional career before his heart called him back to it. He returned to his native South Dakota and began working for Huether Family Match Pointe, working as a high-performance coach and carrying on the organization’s motto of developing healthy people through the lifetime sport of tennis. When the opportunity to host a pro tennis tournament came up, there was simply nobody more prepared to lead the charge.
“I didn’t get to play tournaments in Sioux Falls, we had to travel to every tournament,” Vellek recalled. “The opportunities here have changed so much. So now to escalate it to the point where a professional tournament is coming to Sioux Falls, South Dakota… Maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago it was unthinkable.”
The event is being held at The Huether Family Match Pointe club, which is located on the state-of-the-art Sanford Sports Complex. Everything about the facility is first-class, from the 10 indoor tennis courts to the spaces designed for recreation and relaxation. The residents of Sioux Falls are excited to witness tennis up close, and not just because of curiosity. This is a town that is passionate about sports, from their South Dakota State Jackrabbits to the G-League basketball program. And Vellek explains that events and one-off competitions are equally popular, as the residents love watching elite level athletes in person.
