|
The 2010 Soweto Tennis Open begins on Monday, with some top players leading the field. Coaching clinics will also be held.
Crowds cheer on the players
WITH a prize purse of about R750 000 up for grabs for both male and female contenders, the 2010 Soweto Tennis Open promises to be a real cracker.
To be played at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Complex in Central Western Jabavu, Soweto, the tennis tournament starts on Monday, 12 April and ends on Saturday, 17 April. And in breaking with tradition, this year’s male and female tournaments will be played concurrently; in 2009, the two were played in separate weeks.
The Soweto Open is an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournament. “It makes a lot of sense to play the two events concurrently. It is not only logistically a more sensible move but it is also far more cost-effective. We are also hoping that by combining the two tournaments we will also attract many more spectators to the tennis centre,” says Gavin Crookes, the tournament director.
In 2009, the City signed a deal worth R16-million to secure the hosting rights of the tournament for three years. Joburg was awarded the rights by the ATP and its decision was ratified by the South African Tennis Association (Sata). The tournament will be played in Soweto until 2011.
Through hosting a tennis contest of such stature, the City hopes to promote the metro as a cultural and sporting destination of choice and support the development of tennis in Soweto. And as part of introducing township youngsters to the world of professional tennis, identifying and nurturing talent, the City will host tennis coaching clinics targeting more than 140 Soweto youngsters.
Coaching clinics are part of the package
“The City of Joburg takes pride in hosting a sporting event of this magnitude. This is meant to provide a platform for the city to introduce the youth to tennis as a sporting code, promote Soweto as a geographic location of interest, enhance social cohesion, expose local people to international talent and experience, and promote Gauteng and Joburg as a cultural and sport destination of choice,” notes Executive Mayor Amos Masondo.
The Soweto Tennis Open is organised under the auspices of Joburg’s department of community development, the Gauteng provincial government, Sata and the National Lottery Board.
Locals who are scheduled to play include Rik de Voest, Izak van der Merwe, Raven Klaasen, Nikala Scholtz, Chanel Simmonds, Kelly Anderson, Natasha Fourouclas and Christi Potgieter.
Organisers say that the men’s tournament has attracted a few well-known contenders, including former Australian Open finalist and Wimbledon semifinalist Rainer Schuettler of Germany, Slovakians Lukas Lacko and Karol Beck, India's Somdev Devvarman, Gilles Muller of Luxembourg and Israel's Harel Levy.
Top-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro clinched victory in the men’s final in 2009, when he hammered South Africa’s unseeded De Voest. The women’s title was won by fourth-seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia who trounced Czech Republic’s eighth-seed Eva Hrdinova. Neither winner will be able to defend their titles.
The inaugural Soweto Open marked the first time that an international tennis tournament of this magnitude was hosted in a township. Having a tennis tournament played in Soweto is in line with the City’s strategy to promote different sporting codes in previously marginalised areas.
Usually, as part of the tournament’s social responsibility programme, local and international tennis coaches and players conduct coaching clinics targeting more than 140 Soweto youngsters. This is an opportunity to identify and nurture talent while introducing youngsters to the world of professional tennis.
The Soweto Open is expected to attract more than 2 000 spectators daily, and entrance to the stadium is free. The stadium can seat 2 100; a further 300 seats will be provided in the clubhouse pavilion.
Following its recent upgrade, the Arthur Ashe Tennis Complex now boasts nine courts with a seating capacity of 500 people. The City has invested R9,2-million in the project.
For motorists who don’t wish to drive to Soweto, the City has organised a shuttle service to run between the official tournament hotel, the Crowne Plaza Southern Sun Grayston, in Sandton, to the tennis complex. It will operate from 8am to 4.30pm each day. Ample and secure parking space has been secured at the hotel.
Singles draws for both male and female categories will comprise 32 players with 24 direct entries, four qualifying spots and four wild cards.
Related stories:
Soweto's Arthur Ashe Stadium rebuilt
Joburg lands major ATP event
'Great game' ends Soweto Open
|
