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DATES
MULTIPLE
SITES
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
USTA LEVEL
ALL DRAWS
December 26-29, 2026
High Point Tennis Center
Huffines Tennis Center
LoveJoy High School
Collin County Community College
December 13, 2026 at 11:59pm
Level 4 Tournament
Women's & Men's
Singles, Doubles, Mixed
OVERVIEW
THE COTTON BOWL TENNIS CLASSIC
A Dallas Tradition Since 1957
For nearly seven decades, the Dallas Cotton Bowl Tennis Classic has been one of the most recognized year-end tournaments in Texas. Established in 1957, the tournament has welcomed generations of junior, collegiate, professional, and recreational players to compete in one of Dallas' longest-running tennis traditions.
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Hosted by the Dallas tennis Association, the Cotton Bowl brings together competitors from across texas and the country for four days of outstanding competition, sportsmanship, and community. Whether you're competing for a championship title, USTA ranking points, or simple the experience of playing in a historic event, the Cotton Bowl offers a tournament atmosphere like any other.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
SCORING FORMAT
Matches will be played using USTA tournament regulations. Main draw are best of two out of three sets with a match tiebreak (10-point) played in lieu of a full third set unless otherwise specified by tournament officials.
DRAW FORMAT
Draw sizes, consolation formats, and event structures vary by division. Tournament Directors reserve the right to combine divisions or modify formats based on entry numbers and weather conditions.
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Players must have a current USTA membership
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Match times will be available online prior to the tournament
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Players are responsible for checking schedules and arriving ready to compete
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USTA Rules and The Code will govern all play
PRESENTED BY
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
FROM WOOD COURTS TO MODERN PLAY
The Story Of The Cotton Bowl
The Cotton Bowl tennis Classic has been a Dallas tradition for nearly seven decades. In 1957, the Cotton Bowl Council, the Dallas Tennis Association, and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, launches its own indoor tennis tournament at the Fair Park Automobile Building, competing on wood tennis courts, and hosting top junior players from December 28-32. Entry fees were just $2 per player, per event. In its first year, the Cotton Bowl drew more than 200 entrants.
Former ATP tennis professional and current USTA Texas Eecutive Director, Fred Viancos, recalls that "everyone looked forward to playing the Cotton Bowl." The tournament attracted top juniors from across Texas and winning it meant something.
College players returned home to compete alongside old friends, raising the level of play and boosting the event's excitement. Fred went on to claim the Boys 18's singles title that year, defeating William Daniel 6-4, 6-4 in the final, a standout victory from his junior career.
EST. 1957
Fair Park Automobile Building
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
MEET
MICHAEL MABE
COTTON BOWL COMPETITOR SINCE 1998
From his first appearance as a junior to becoming a champion, Michael's Cotton Bowl journey is a story of passion, growth and unforgettable moments.
FIRST COTTON BOWL
1998
HOMETOWN
Dallas, Texas
TOP ACHIEVEMENT
Father-Son Doubles Finalist (2000)
The Cotton Bowl Classic has been a constant in my tennis life for more than two decades, and I’ve had the privilege of competing in the tournament 26 times since my first appearance in 1998. Growing up in Dallas, the event quickly became a holiday tradition and a meaningful part of my development as a player, serving as an early preview of the competitive environment I would later experience at the collegiate level. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to compete against elite local players and top college talent, with no shortage of late-night matches and unforgettable battles.
Some of my favorite memories include playing in my first Cotton Bowl as a junior, reaching the Father-Son Doubles final in 2000, competing in freezing conditions inside the Brookhaven “barn” while it snowed outside, and most recently, winning my first event this year in Men’s 4.5 Singles in my 26th time entering the tournament. With only two missed editions (2013 and 2020), the Cotton Bowl has been a staple in my tennis events, and I believe it is highly likely that no one has entered this event more than I have over the years since its inception in 1957. Competing in one of the largest and historic USTA tournaments in Texas, especially in my hometown, has been incredibly meaningful, and the tournament will always hold a special place in my heart.