A rare opportunity for local tennis fans is here as the Arizona Tennis Classic returns to the Phoenix metropolitan area this week.

This ATP Challenger 175 category boasts only a handful of events worldwide and the Arizona Tennis Classic will stand alone as the only one in North America.

The tournament will be held at the historic Phoenix Country Club at 2901 N. 7th St. today through Sunday, March 17. General admission tickets start at $20 and start times vary each day. Visit ArizonaTennisClassic.com for more information.

With total prize money at $225,000 – a Challenger Tour record – the tournament will showcase 10 players ranked in the world’s top 50 along with some of the brightest young talent in the sport.

Andy Murray of Britain plays a forehand return to Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 15. Murray, ranked 61 in the world in ATP rankings, will be among the big names at the Arizona Tennis Classic this week at Phoenix Country Club. (The Associated Press/Andy Wong)

Big names at the tournament include Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, U.S. open winner and former world No. 1 player. Among the other players signed on to compete are Christopher Eubanks, Tomás Martín Etcheverry, Marcos Giron, Emil Ruusuvuori, Max Purcell and Jack Draper.

Editor's note: The above was republished from an Arizona Tennis Classic news release.