Tennis fever has hit the country’s capital, as over 500 tennis players from across the country arrive in Pretoria to participate in the Dunlop Open, which takes place from 8-12 January. All the finals will be played at the Groenkloof Tennis Stadium on Sunday, 12 January.
The annual tournament is one of Gauteng North’s premier tennis events and is part of the national Key Health Series, making it one of the most prestigious tennis events in the country. One of the strongest line-ups of players has confirmed their entry for the 2014 event.
Boys and girls in the under 10, 12, 14 and 16 age categories will compete in singles and doubles events in different tennis clubs throughout Pretoria as well as at Gauteng North Tennis Association’s headquarters in Groenkloof. There will also be a men’s and women’s event for players over the age of 16 years.
Clark Coetzee, the president of Gauteng North Tennis, says the association is ready to deliver a great event. “We are excited to be hosting another edition of the Dunlop Open. The tournament has proved to be a success in the past and together with our sponsors, Dunlop, we are looking to make this our flagship tournament of the year.”
Super-Brands marketing director, Steve Gallienne, said that his company’s brand, Dunlop, were happy to be part of the tournament. “We are delighted to be associated with an event boasting the cream of South Africa’s up-and-coming tennis players. As one of the world’s leading brands, we continue to commit ourselves to the development of tennis in our country, especially at grass-roots level,” he said.
The under 10 age group will be hosted by the Lynnwood Tennis Club. The under 12 matches will take place at the University of Pretoria with the boys under 14 at Groenkloof Stadium. The girls under 14 will play at the Menlo Alkant Tennis Club. Groenkloof will also host the boys under 16 with the girls under 16 age group being hosted by Menlo Alkant.
The men and women’s events will be staged at Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool.
