International tennis returns to Sunderland Tennis Centre in March, with the Aegon GB Pro-Series Sunderland Sunday 17 – Sunday 24 March. For 2013 the event is a mixed Men’s $10k ITF Pro-Series and Women’s $15k ITF Pro-Series event.
These events are the first level of international professional tennis with Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nadal, Serena Williams and all the top players starting out at this level. Consequently for tennis fans in the north-east it’s a great opportunity to see some of the game’s rising stars close up and free of charge. A bonus for 2013 being that as a mixed event there’s a chance to see both men and women in action.
In January 2012 a Women’s $25k event was held at Sunderland with the runner-up a 17 year old Annika Beck (Germany) who is now ranked in the World’s top 100 (71 @ Jan 2013), having won three $75k events in the latter part of 2012, and is now competing on the stage of Grand Slam events.
The schedule see’s qualifying on Sunday 17 - Tuesday 19 March, and main draw Tuesday 19 – Sunday 24 March. With the final’s scheduled for
Friday 22nd Men’s Doubles Final
Saturday 23rd Men’s Singles & Women’s Doubles Final
Sunday 24th Women’s Singles Final
The week-end of 23 / 24 in particular promises a bumper week end of tennis with the Women’s Singles Semi-Final’s also on show on Saturday 23rd, whilst as part of the Women’s Singles final on Sunday 24th the centre are staging a Mini Tennis event and Cardio Tennis ahead of the final, with court side seating to then watch the Final at 11.00am. For further information on the Mini Tennis and Cardio session please contact Graham Fowler at Sunderland Tennis Centre on graham.fowler@sunderland.gov.uk
Played on the indoor courts at the Sunderland Tennis Centre, there is free entry for spectators.
Player Entry lists will be confirmed in the first week of March, with draws and match schedule available throughout the tournament week on www.lta.org.uk
For any further information contact Richard Joyner, Tournament Director on richard.joyner@lta.org.uk