AT A GLANCE
implementing a pathway that can cater to 11 and 12-year-olds at a competitive level, all the way through to our professional level athletes, this was a step that had to happen.
‘‘Hopefully, this is just the start, we’d like to build further depth in these events, but we’ll rely on the support of communities like Te Anau and Hamilton, to be able to make that happen.
‘‘It’s a critical step, but we want it to be a sustainable one.’’
New Zealand’s summer of tennis December 19-22:
Wellington Open/ NZ Championships
December 30 to January 5:
Anau men’s ITF tournament ASB Classic
January 4-12:
(women’s)
January 11-18:
(men’s)
February 3-8:
Wellington
ASB Classic
Fed Cup in
February 10-16:
Hamilton women’s ITF tournament
Te
The men’s ITF tournament begins in Te Anau on December 30, and a women’s tournament will be held in Hamilton from February 10-16.
‘‘We strongly indicated that was something we were keen to see happen,’’ Tennis NZ CEO Julie Paterson said.
‘‘So we put a big paper to the board in August around investment opportunities and the Pro Tour events were something that the board did see as a valuable addition to the performance programme.
‘‘It’s awesome to be able to restart the Pro Tour events, the tennis community have been pretty strong in their views that this is something that has been missing for a long time, but the reality was that at the time they were stopped, Tennis NZ didn’t have the money to invest in them and they cost a lot of money to run.
‘‘So eight years later, to be able to restart them and especially utilising our regional facilities is really cool.’’
The women’s event is the week before New Zealand hosts the Fed Cup in Wellington. But there isn’t a standalone New Zealand Championships this summer, as the event has been merged with the December 19-22 Wellington Open.
In previous years, players who have won the singles or doubles at the NZ Championships have been offered wildcards to the ASB Classic, but it’s unknown if the same could happen again this time.
‘‘I don’t think those conversations with Karl [Budge, ASB Classic tournament director] have been finalised yet,’’ Rea said.
‘‘Without wanting to speak for him, I’m sure Karl would see the value in professional level events, rather than what was in essence a money tournament.
‘‘I’m sure he’d be looking favourably at who’s performing well in Te Anau and on the female side, who’s preparing and performing strongly with their preseason.
‘‘Someone like Paige Hourigan (NZ No 1, at 428) has had a really strong 2019, tapered off over the last month or two, it would be fair to say, so hopefully she has a strong preseason and gets to Auckland in January ready to go.’’