ITF World Tennis Tour Events Back in New Zealand
There will be a bumper summer of international tennis in New Zealand this year, with two ITF World Tennis Tour professional events announced for December in the lead up to the ASB Classic.
ITF World Tennis Tour: Wellington will be held from December 12-18, and the EVES Open – ITF World Tennis Tour: Tauranga will follow from December 18-24.
The ITF World Tennis Tour is part of the professional tennis circuit, with events played in more than 50 countries in 2021. The tour aims to attract the stars of the future, with the games’ biggest names making their start at this level. The events will attract a strong international contingent and will also provide valuable opportunities for emerging professional tennis players in New Zealand.
Tennis New Zealand chief executive Julie Paterson says she is delighted to have events at this level back on the calendar, after a hiatus over the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The last ITF World Tennis Tour professional events in New Zealand were held just prior to lockdown in 2020. They provided a huge boost to our Kiwi players and attracted some top international talent to our shores,” Paterson says.
“It’s great to have such a strong international tennis season back in New Zealand across the summer, which includes the ITF World Tennis Tour, ASB Classic and a home Davis Cup tie in February. I know our players are motivated to perform in front of home crowds at this level after such a long period playing overseas."
The events held in New Zealand in January and February 2020 attracted several athletes now entrenched in the top tier ATP and WTA tours, including the current world number 30, Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who competed at the World Tennis Tour event in Te Anau.
Several New Zealand players also collected their first professional tour wins and ranking points that summer, and it is anticipated around 15 New Zealand players are likely to feature in the main draw of the Wellington and Tauranga events this year through their rankings, or via wildcards. Many more will be involved through the qualifying draw.
The ITF World Tennis Tour events in New Zealand this summer have already received strong regional support and it is expected they will be played in front of large local crowds who are hungry for live sport.
Paterson says Tennis New Zealand is grateful to the event sponsors and supporters, including EVES Real Estate, TECT, Tauranga City Council, and Wellington City Council.
“They have seen the value in bringing these events to New Zealand and to their cities. Both Wellington and Tauranga have fantastic, growing tennis communities and we know they’ll be excited to catch some international action this summer.”
ITF World Tennis Tour: Wellington will be held at Renouf Tennis Centre from December 12-18, and the EVES Open – World Tennis Tour: Tauranga will be held at Venture Developments WBOP Tennis Centre in Pāpāmoa from December 18-24. Play will begin from 11am each day, with entry free to spectators.
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