SoulvisionQ1
July 7th, 2006, 06:56 AM
Brisbane steals GC and Adelaide tennis events to create a bigger combined event...
New combined event for Brisbane in 2009
July 7, 2006 - Click here for article (http://www.tennisaustralia.com.au/pages/article.aspx?id=4&articleid=ArticleID20067712532&pageId=8308&HandlerId=1)
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/image-2.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/tennyson-aerial-view-to-citCustom.jpg
Brisbane, July 7 - Tennis Australia is to develop a new stop on the Road to the Australian Open with the announcement today of plans for a combined men’s and women’s event leading into the Australian Open from 2009 onwards.
The January tournament, which will provide players with ideal preparation for the first Grand Slam of the season, will be held at the new Tennyson State Tennis Centre in Brisbane.
The event will involve bringing together the existing Next Generation Adelaide International for men with the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts on the Gold Coast in the one state-of-the-art venue. In 2007 and 2008 these international events will continue to be hosted in their existing cities before moving to Brisbane.
Tennis Australia's Craig Tiley (far left), Pat Rafter and Queensland Premier Peter
Beattie (fourth and fifth from left) are among those at today's announcement.
To make the outdoor summer event as comfortable as possible for players and spectators, the Queensland Government also announced today $17 million in design changes to the multi-million dollar State Tennis Centre, including an open-sided translucent roof structure over the centre court and further corporate suites.
The new $77 million State Tennis Centre will have a centre court capacity of 5,500, with additional seating capacity added to the original construction plans for the two show courts to further accommodate the combined event.
Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood said, "The worldwide trend in tennis is moving towards more and more combined tournaments where the public get to see the top men and women playing in the one venue.
"Today’s announcement ensures the future growth of both tournaments in this changing world environment for tennis and will strengthen the attraction to top players of preparing here in Australia prior to the Australian Open.
He added, "The Queensland Government is to be congratulated for the commitment they are showing to tennis in Queensland over the next few years through the construction of a world class venue capable of hosting a combined event at this level and the recently announced additional $8 million towards the Regional Tennis Facilities Program.
"World class facilities are a cornerstone of the future growth of tennis in our country and Queensland has set the benchmark in this area."
Ashley Cooper, President of Tennis Queensland adds, "Queenslanders are already blessed with being able to see the world’s leading women players each year, they can now look forward to the bonus of seeing regular top level men’s tennis at the one sensational venue."
The new purpose built State Tennis Centre, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will feature all three Grand Slam surfaces – grass, clay and hardcourt.
It will be the headquarters of Tennis Queensland and the Queensland Academy of Sport’s tennis program and has been selected as the venue for one of the five National High Performance Academies which is a national training program for our leading players run through Tennis Australia. The other four Academies are in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
This proposed change to the tennis calendar announced today - which requires final sanctioning by the ATP and WTA tours - will not come into effect until 2009.
In the interim, Tennis Australia will be working together with Tennis SA and the South Australian government to investigate alternative ways to continue to provide opportunities for top level tennis to be seen by the South Australian tennis public following the planned move of the existing Men’s Hardcourts in three years time.
Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood also paid tribute to the existing Adelaide and Gold Coast tournaments - which have received international accolades from players and the international tennis bodies in recent years - for the professional staging of their events.
"The events in Adelaide and the Gold Coast have increased in popularity in recent years thanks to the efforts of a number of talented and dedicated individuals, including staff at the local associations, the respective tournament directors, sponsors, government agencies and volunteers.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and former Australian tennis star
Pat Rafter enjoy some tennis at today's announcement.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/image-1.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/tennyson18jqSmall.jpg
"Their efforts to help grow the sport, and to stage memorable tournaments for the public year on year, is to be commended. Tennis Australia will continue to work closely with Tennis South Australia and Tennis Queensland to ensure that the remaining tournaments in 2007 and 2008 are fitting tributes to their efforts over the years."
The announcement of the combined tournament will further strengthen the lead-up tournaments on the Road to the Australian Open which in 2009 will comprise of three combined men’s and women’s tournaments, beginning with the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth, then the new tournament in Brisbane followed by the Medibank Sydney International, and one women’s tournament - the Moorilla Hobart International.
New combined event for Brisbane in 2009
July 7, 2006 - Click here for article (http://www.tennisaustralia.com.au/pages/article.aspx?id=4&articleid=ArticleID20067712532&pageId=8308&HandlerId=1)
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/image-2.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/tennyson-aerial-view-to-citCustom.jpg
Brisbane, July 7 - Tennis Australia is to develop a new stop on the Road to the Australian Open with the announcement today of plans for a combined men’s and women’s event leading into the Australian Open from 2009 onwards.
The January tournament, which will provide players with ideal preparation for the first Grand Slam of the season, will be held at the new Tennyson State Tennis Centre in Brisbane.
The event will involve bringing together the existing Next Generation Adelaide International for men with the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts on the Gold Coast in the one state-of-the-art venue. In 2007 and 2008 these international events will continue to be hosted in their existing cities before moving to Brisbane.
Tennis Australia's Craig Tiley (far left), Pat Rafter and Queensland Premier Peter
Beattie (fourth and fifth from left) are among those at today's announcement.
To make the outdoor summer event as comfortable as possible for players and spectators, the Queensland Government also announced today $17 million in design changes to the multi-million dollar State Tennis Centre, including an open-sided translucent roof structure over the centre court and further corporate suites.
The new $77 million State Tennis Centre will have a centre court capacity of 5,500, with additional seating capacity added to the original construction plans for the two show courts to further accommodate the combined event.
Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood said, "The worldwide trend in tennis is moving towards more and more combined tournaments where the public get to see the top men and women playing in the one venue.
"Today’s announcement ensures the future growth of both tournaments in this changing world environment for tennis and will strengthen the attraction to top players of preparing here in Australia prior to the Australian Open.
He added, "The Queensland Government is to be congratulated for the commitment they are showing to tennis in Queensland over the next few years through the construction of a world class venue capable of hosting a combined event at this level and the recently announced additional $8 million towards the Regional Tennis Facilities Program.
"World class facilities are a cornerstone of the future growth of tennis in our country and Queensland has set the benchmark in this area."
Ashley Cooper, President of Tennis Queensland adds, "Queenslanders are already blessed with being able to see the world’s leading women players each year, they can now look forward to the bonus of seeing regular top level men’s tennis at the one sensational venue."
The new purpose built State Tennis Centre, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will feature all three Grand Slam surfaces – grass, clay and hardcourt.
It will be the headquarters of Tennis Queensland and the Queensland Academy of Sport’s tennis program and has been selected as the venue for one of the five National High Performance Academies which is a national training program for our leading players run through Tennis Australia. The other four Academies are in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
This proposed change to the tennis calendar announced today - which requires final sanctioning by the ATP and WTA tours - will not come into effect until 2009.
In the interim, Tennis Australia will be working together with Tennis SA and the South Australian government to investigate alternative ways to continue to provide opportunities for top level tennis to be seen by the South Australian tennis public following the planned move of the existing Men’s Hardcourts in three years time.
Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood also paid tribute to the existing Adelaide and Gold Coast tournaments - which have received international accolades from players and the international tennis bodies in recent years - for the professional staging of their events.
"The events in Adelaide and the Gold Coast have increased in popularity in recent years thanks to the efforts of a number of talented and dedicated individuals, including staff at the local associations, the respective tournament directors, sponsors, government agencies and volunteers.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and former Australian tennis star
Pat Rafter enjoy some tennis at today's announcement.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/image-1.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/tennyson18jqSmall.jpg
"Their efforts to help grow the sport, and to stage memorable tournaments for the public year on year, is to be commended. Tennis Australia will continue to work closely with Tennis South Australia and Tennis Queensland to ensure that the remaining tournaments in 2007 and 2008 are fitting tributes to their efforts over the years."
The announcement of the combined tournament will further strengthen the lead-up tournaments on the Road to the Australian Open which in 2009 will comprise of three combined men’s and women’s tournaments, beginning with the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth, then the new tournament in Brisbane followed by the Medibank Sydney International, and one women’s tournament - the Moorilla Hobart International.