Men’s international tennis returns to the outdoor clays courts at The Northumberland Club, Jesmond from Sunday 4 May to Saturday 10 May, with free entry to spectators.
The Aegon GB Pro-Series Newcastle is an ITF Pro Circuit men’s $10k event, which has seen a number of players since move on to the higher echelons of the game. All the world’s top players sharpened their pro careers at this level, and this year’s line-up is a good blend of British and overseas players.
The 2013 event, saw an un-seeded Ashley Hewitt win his first pro-singles title, overcoming 2nd seed Axel Michon (France) in a thrilling final, with the USN Bolton Arena based player, recovering from a set, 1-4, and 15-40 for a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory. On his way to the final a 21 year old Hewitt had beaten the fast rising Croat Borna Coric, top seed and current British number 2 Dan Evans, and current British number 5 Dan Smethurst. Click here to watch a link to Ashley Hewitt interview after winning Newcastle in 2013.
The highest ranked entry is French player Tak Khunn Wang. The 22 year old from Paris, who will be playing his first ever pro event in Britain, reached a career high ranking of 265 in February of this year, and during 2013 made a meteoric rise up the ranking having started the year un-ranked, and finishing it at 289. He has already won a title in Eqypt at the start of the year, and collected 5 singles titles in 2013. Currently mixing ITF Pro-Circuit events with ATP Challenger events, Wang arrives in the North-East having played ATP Challengers on clay in Brazil for the past two weeks.
The highest ranked Brit in Newcastle will be Marcus Willis, who has already won a singles title in Tipton this year, whilst Alex Ward and Liam Broady will be arriving in Newcastle having both picked up singles titles at the weekend. 24 year old Ward, who is working his way back up the rankings after injury captured the men’s $10k title in Haraklion, Greece, whilst 20 year old Broady, who reached two in the world as a junior, won his 2nd pro-career singles title at the men’s $10k in Bournemouth.
In addition there will be local interest in the qualifying event, with 19 year old John Thompson, from Gosforth in action. Thompson, who is currently on a tennis scholarship at the University of Bath, returns to the North-East to play at his home venue.
Tournament Director, Richard Joyner, said ‘The welcome we get in Newcastle is fantastic; everyone is so supportive, friendly, and welcoming. As a result it is a popular event with the players, particularly as everything is so close by, with hotels, restaurants and other amenities all within easy walking distance on Osborne Road. The club are again running an Open day and their club final’s day linked in to the final, whilst new for this year is a Visually Impaired tournament also taking place on Saturday 10 May. There promises to be some great tennis throughout the week, and entry is free for spectators’.
Men’s qualifying for the Aegon GB Pro-Series Newcastle is Sunday 4 & Monday 5 May, with main draw Tuesday 6 May to Saturday 10 May. The men’s singles final is scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday 10 May, with a club BBQ at lunch-time.
Entry for spectators throughout the week is free of charge.
As well as coming along to watch, you can follow the action through live scoring.