BSP-05 New ATP-WTA tennis tournament for Adelaide in 2020

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ZCZC

BSP-05

TENNIS-AUS-ATP-WTA-ADELAIDE

New ATP-WTA tennis tournament for Adelaide in 2020

ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Adelaide will host the
world’s top tennis stars from next year at a new joint ATP-WTA tournament set
to be played ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam, it was announced
Saturday.

The event will take place at a revamped Memorial Drive, which has been
given an Aus$10 million (US$7.3 million) cash injection to put a woven
fibreglass membrane fabric roof on the centre court.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said it was part of his vision
for the future of the Australian tennis summer.

Sydney and Brisbane have already been announced as hosts of the new
innovative 24-nation ATP World Team Cup, which will be played from January 3
over 10 days in the lead-up to the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne
Park.

A third host city for that event, widely tipped as Perth, is yet to be
announced.

“It’s important for us to continually improve on the great tennis offering
we have in Australia to ensure there are more opportunities for players, more
opportunities for fans to get to see them in their hometowns,” said Tiley.

“A major part of that vision is delivering more world-class tennis to
capital cities around Australia which is what this (Adelaide) tournament will
help do.

“It is a vital piece in our vision to ultimately grow tennis and provide
inspiration for future generations.”

No dates for the week-long Adelaide tournament were announced, but the
Adelaide Advertiser said it will effectively replace the Sydney International
in January.

Tiley said he expected it to attract more than 120 of the world’s top
singles and doubles players with a minimum of Aus$2 million (US$1.4 million)
in prizemoney.

BSS/AFP/MR/1021 hrs