MIAMI — FIU Athletics officially opened its state-of-the-art PayCargo Tennis Complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning. 

Thanks to the generosity of PayCargo, LLC, FIU Athletics unveiled a completely renovated facility with six lighted competition-level tennis courts, seating areas with canopies, new fencing and FIU-branded windscreens. 

Additionally, the facility features a live-streaming camera-system for all six courts and an in-arena scoreboard, of which will allow fans on site and online to better follow the Panthers. 

"This is a huge day for FIU and none of it would have been possible without the generosity of Eduardo Del Riego and PayCargo," said head coach Katarina Petrovic. "Our new facility allows us to continue to raise the level of our program and also to further the growth of tennis as a sport."

Del Riego, a proud alum ('82) and a champion of FIU Athletics, is the Chief Executive Officer for PayCargo and and was in attendance to commemorate the facility's opening. Along with how the courts will help to enhance the FIU student-athlete experience, PayCargo will also be utilizing the space for clinics to continue to grow the game of tennis. 

"I can not tell you how excited I am to be here for this day," said Athletics Director Scott Carr. "This is a special, historic day for FIU, for FIU tennis and for the game of tennis as a whole."

The courts are named posthumously for Sergio Lemme, a former chairman and co-founder of PayCargo. 

"We're so happy to have this great project completed with the support of PayCargo and we know the best is yet to come," commented FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell.

The Panthers recently claimed the CUSA Championship, the program's second-consecutive title, in its first significant competition at its new facility. FIU, currently ranked 28th, will compete in the NCAA Tournament as CUSA's automatic bid. 

FIU has now qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four-straight seasons and for the 13th-time in program history. The Panthers also currently hold a 27-match home winning streak and have won 18-straight overall.