It’s the first men’s professional tennis event ever to be held in Cary — and you’re invited!

Featuring top Association of Tennis Professionals and highlighting the world’s best up and coming players, the Cary Tennis Championships are underway through Sunday, Sept. 20.

Part of the ATP Challenger Tour, this pro event offers prize money totaling $50,000.

“We have been extremely fortunate to attract fantastic players for this tournament,” said tourney spokesperson Cindy Dreikosen, “and we have special events planned throughout the week.”

For example, today is Community Charity Day at the tournament, in partnership with Abilities Tennis of North Carolina and the Me Fine Foundation, which provide adaptive tennis for individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout the state.

Friday’s schedule features the quarter final rounds of tennis, followed by semi-final rounds on Saturday and finals on Sunday.

Live scoring updates are available on the tourney website, along with player bios, draws and the full schedule of events.

Tickets are offered at a variety of ticket levels and packages, with daily and weekly passes also available.

For more information, see carytennischampionships.com, call (919) 462-2061 or email info@carytennischampionships.com.

The Cary Tennis Center is located at 2727 Louis Stephens Drive.

Bet you didn’t know that every 11 minutes, another person in our nation loses his sight.

In North Carolina, more than 25,000 preschoolers and 349,000 school-age children have visual problems. And 66,000 adults have glaucoma, with only half of them diagnosed.

You can help.

Support the Prevent Blindness Mixed Doubles Tennis Classic this week, July 30-Aug. 2, in Cary.

This 24^th annual event is an amateur tennis tournament pairing players and fans from area tennis clubs for a weekend of mixed doubles tennis in support of the mission of Prevent Blindness North Carolina: To prevent blindness, preserve and restore sight, and promote good vision for all North Carolinians.

The Classic is hosted by MacGregor Downs Country Club, located at 430 Saint Andrews Lane in Cary.

Thursday night’s kickoff Patron Party will feature cocktails, dinner, live music and an auction full of prizes, plus an exhibition tennis match.

The Patron Party runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and tickets are $40 per person.

Tournament matches will be contested on Saturday and Sunday.

All proceeds from this four-day event will be used to benefit the programs and services of Prevent Blindness North Carolina.

For more information, visit nc.preventblindness.org or call (800) 543-7839.