New Look Tennis Calendar For 2009

The LTA today announced a new look international calendar for 2009 including the first ATP/Sony Ericsson WTA Tour combined event to be held in Great Britain. The changes to the grass court tournaments leading up to The Championships, Wimbledon will be introduced from next year.

Key changes to the major events held in Great Britain throughout June include, from 2009, moving the international men’s event currently staged in Nottingham to produce a combined men’s and women’s event to be held at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne. In 2010 the venue for the women’s (Sony Ericsson WTA Tour) tournament currently held in Birmingham will be determined by a bidding process with any venue meeting the criteria able to bid to host the event.

2009 (Provisional dates)
Week Commencing:

Monday 1st June $50,000 ATP Challenger & $50,000 & ITF women’s event, venue to be confirmed

Monday 8th June ATP event at The Queen’s Club, London Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham

Monday 15th June ATP/WTA combined event at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne

2010 (Provisional dates)

Week Commencing:

Monday 31st May $50,000 ATP Challenger & $50,000 ITF women’s event, venue to be confirmed

Monday 7th June ATP event at The Queen’s Club, London Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event open for bidding

Monday 14th June ATP/WTA combined event at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne

Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the LTA, said: “The new, co-ordinated calendar will help raise the profile of the sport nationally and enhance the experience for fans, players and spectators. We are confident that the changes will help to re-energise the calendar and open up the sport to a new audience as well as offering a better experience for existing fans. The bidding process in 2010 further opens up the calendar and means that new venues have the option of bidding to host world class tennis.

“This is at the heart of the LTA’s new commercial strategy where we hope to position a Lead Partner as the umbrella sponsor of British tennis. The commercial strategy is bringing together all elements of the sport from schools to elite players and provides a real opportunity for us to build a strong partnership with a brand.”