EVES Open 2023: Pro tennis returns to the beach

Dust off your picnic blanket and deck chairs, strap on that floppy hat, international tennis is returning to the beach this summer.

After the success of last year’s inaugural event, the EVES Open – ITF World Tennis Tour: Tauranga will be back in Pāpāmoa and bigger than ever from 17-23 December.

This is a professional event for men (M15) and women (W25) with official ATP and WTA world ranking points and a total prize pool of US$40,000.

The EVES Open is expected to attract a strong international contingent once again and provide a valuable launch-pad for emerging professional tennis players in New Zealand.

The tournament, which is free for spectators, will be held on the sky-blue hard courts of Papamoa Tennis Club, at the Venture Developments WBOP Tennis Centre in Gordon Spratt Reserve.

Papamoa Tennis Club President Gerald Greig said last year’s EVES Open saw large crowds every day of the week in the lead up to Christmas, with fans young and old sitting on the grass banks under pōhutukawa trees watching high-quality tennis action.

Greig said the event resulted in “nothing but rave reviews, just complete over-the-top rave reviews”.

“I get pestered all the time,” he said with a laugh.

“‘Have we got the tournament again?’ ‘When can we announce it?’ ‘How can we help?’”

Tennis New Zealand Chief Executive Julie Paterson confirmed the good news.

“We’re very excited to announce the EVES Open – ITF World Tennis Tour: Tauranga is back on the calendar for 2023,” she said.

“The event was a true highlight of our domestic season last year, with so many great supporters in Tauranga including EVES Real Estate, Tauranga City Council, TECT, local tennis clubs, and mana whenua Ngā Pōtiki all helping make it successful.”

Paterson added: “What better place to play during our big summer of tennis than beautiful Pāpāmoa!”

Kiwi pro Kiranpal Pannu won the men’s singles title at last year’s EVES Open, launching a successful summer of tennis that included playing at the ASB Classic in January and the Davis Cup in February.

The New Zealand doubles team of Erin Routliffe and Paige Hourigan won the women's doubles, and Kiwi Jack Loutit and his Japanese partner Daisuke Sumizawa won the men's doubles.

Heath Young, Chief Executive of title sponsor EVES Real Estate, said it was a no-brainer for the company to continue its support of this international tennis event when you see the flow-on effects “of having those international tennis players here, providing that inspiration for our young up-and-coming tennis players”.

“Anyone that we hosted here was just more than impressed with the level of tennis, the quality, and just the all-round professional approach to hosting good tennis,” Young said.

“EVES has always prided itself on being involved in the community it serves and this event just absolutely makes sense. It’s great to be involved once again and we’re really excited to be continuing our relationship both with tennis and Tennis New Zealand.”

Gerald Greig said the return of the EVES Open was a major victory for the whole tennis community in Tauranga, who came from all over the city last year to support.

“From the entire Western Bay, in fact, and across the Bay of Plenty. We had some Waikato people come over last year and I’ve had people in Auckland saying they’re definitely coming down for the next tournament. It’s a tennis community event.”

He said it is also an opportunity to host a free community event for locals in Pāpāmoa and promote the sport they love, which Papamoa Tennis Club is “super excited” about.

“Tennis is a sport for everybody,” Greig said.

“All of our local juniors had the opportunity to play out on the astro courts with some of the visiting pros last year. They’re excited. Everybody’s really, really excited.”

Kids will again get a chance to rub shoulders with the pros at an official EVES Open Tennis Holiday Programme that will run alongside the tournament this year.

There will also be free introductory tennis coaching sessions in local schools in the lead up to the event.

Courtside hospitality tables will be available to book from the Wednesday to Friday – perfect for a company Christmas party.

There will also be a beer garden and food trucks to keep all the tennis fans fuelled.

The EVES Open will form part of the biggest summer of tennis yet in New Zealand, with details of further events to be announced shortly.

The EVES Open – ITF World Tennis Tour: Tauranga is on from 17-23 December at Venture Developments WBOP Tennis Centre, Gordon Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa. Entry is free for spectators.