Australia?s summer of tennis

[james_]

Well after the Davis Cup triumph, we’re straight into our summer of tennis.

Following the injury to Alicia Molik, the Australian team withdrew from the Hopman Cup today. This comes a year(?) after Lleyton Hewitt’s virus forced Australia out of Hopman Cup XV. Molik, Hewitt and Kim Clijsters have all sustained ankle injuries on the Burswood Dome’s rebound ace surface. Hmmm. Is this sheer bad luck or are we looking at a similar situation to the one that plagued Telstra Dome in the AFL and Suncorp Stadium in the NRL?

Whilst the rest of Australia’s major cities enjoy men’s tennis events this summer, Queenslanders continue to lament the demise of the Milton Tennis Centre and the absence of a quality tennis facility in Brisbane capable of hosting such events.

Urghhhh!!!!!

The Uncle Toby’s Hardcourts is a Tier III event on the WTA calendar with prize money of US$170,000. Former players include Anna Kournikova, Justine Henin, Venus Williams, Mary Pierce, Rachael McQuillan, Concita Martinez, Daniela Hantuchova, Alicia Molik, Rennae Stubbs and Martina Navratilova.

Held at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Queensland Events says the venue is an ideal setting for the event. It has a spectator capacity of 1,300 per day plus corporate seating.


January 2004

3-10 Hyundai Hopman Cup Burswood International Resort Casino, Perth International Mixed Teams Championship (ITF)
4-10 Uncle Toby Hardcourts Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast Women (WTA Tour)
5-11 AAPT Championships Memorial Drive, Adelaide Men (ATP Tour)
11-17 Canberra Classic National Sports Club, Canberra Women (WTA Tour)
11-16 Moorilla International Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart Women (WTA Tour)
11-17 Adidas International Sydney International Tennis Centre Men/Women(WTA Tour, ATP Tour)
14-17 Commonwealth Bank International Kooyong Lawn tennis Club, Melbourne Men (Round Robin)
19-Feb 1 Australian Open Melbourne Park, Melbourne Grand Slam

[Misty Bee]

It's a pity that Brisbane don't get to host a decent event in Tennis. I think Gold Coast is seen as a trendy location, but the population is in Brisbane.

[yob]

.

[Egan]

It wasnt last year my good freind James, Molik and Hewitt lost against Blake and Williams in the final after Blake beat Hewitt. A shame about Molik I have followed her career for the last year or so and has done exceptionally well, getting to many finals and winning her first tournament in Hobart. Up to 38th in the world a real pity.

Burswood Dome, have you got rocks in your head?? All rebound ace is made the same otherwise it wouldnt be called rebound ace? I mean its seems stupid to blame one rebound ace court for injuries, why not blame all rebound ace courts.

The fact of the matter is that Perth holds the second most illustrious tennis tournament after the Australian Open. Last year Serena Williams and Hewitt came the first time 2 no1s came

Queensland Events? What events do they attract a few golf tournaments and Indy? I think there needs to be an inquiry into that section, you guys arent getting the quality of events you deserve up there.

[Jeffles]

Unfortunately, there isn't exactly anywhere to host a tournament in Brisbane. Milton used to host the Australian Women's Hardcourt Champs, forerunner to Gold Coast. I wouldn't be surprised if Brizzy get the Hope Island tourney after the QLD Tennis Centre is built.

I myself will be going to the adidas this week. Gotta love the NSW Open. What an event!

[james_]

My apologies. Hewitt's illness was of course, two years ago.

Burswood Dome, have you got rocks in your head?? All rebound ace is made the same otherwise it wouldnt be called rebound ace? I mean its seems stupid to blame one rebound ace court for injuries, why not blame all rebound ace courts.

I was being facetious.

The fact of the matter is that Perth holds the second most illustrious tennis tournament after the Australian Open.

That's a big call. What about the Adidas International or the Commonwealth Bank International?

I forgot to ask before, could the Hopman Cup tournament be moved around the country, year to year, similar to Davis Cup ties?

[Jeffles]

A huge call indeed Egan. I can't believe I didn't pick up on it the first time. Are you still delerious after your enchantement with Sydney?

The NSW Open (currently under the guise of adidas International) is one of the WORLD'S longest running Tennis Championships, having been played since the 1880's. This puts it 100 odd years ahead of Hopman Cup. It is one of the few tournaments outside the Grand Slams where Men and Women both compete (dito Hopman) but it is the only such tournament that offers women more prizemoney than the men. It has long been associated as the traditional buld up to the Australian Open much the same as Queens Club is seen as a warm up for Wimbledon.

The Hopman Cup is merely an exhibition. There are no ranking points to be gained and it features a limited number of tennis players and even fewer (though it has some) big name stars. I am shocked you even entertained that idea that Hopman Cup is second only to the Aus Open. Hang your head in shame.

[cam]

And the Kooyong Classic (currently under the guise of the Commonwealth Bank International, and formally the Colonial Classic ) always attracts some of the biggest names. Agassi, Roddick, Federer, Grosjean, Johansson... Sampras was always a regular. And played at a venue full of tennis history.

[the guy]

Burswood Dome, have you got rocks in your head?? All rebound ace is made the same otherwise it wouldnt be called rebound ace? I mean its seems stupid to blame one rebound ace court for injuries, why not blame all rebound ace courts.

although all rebound ace surfaces are made of the same components in the layers that make up the surface, they may have different thinckness of each component than another venue which causes more injuries. Though i'm not an expert.

I would say that overall, the adidas int is the biggest lead up tournament to the aust open, but the comm bank features the most centralized group of talent.

[Jeffles]

The Kooyong tournament is about the same age as Hopman Cup (or younger). It is the replacement of the Victorian Open from when the Australian Open was in November. Unlike the NSW Open, the current Kooyong tournament is not the organic evolution of the Victorian Open.

Of course Kooyong is also an exhibition. It survives on few players and big appearance money and prize money. History, not so much. The venue certainly is but not the aura of the trophy.

[Egan]

The Hopman Cup is second on the list as the most illustrious tournament in Australia, simply due to the quality of the field, the attendance, venue, and most importantly run by Paul McNamee.

The event this year had Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Daniela Hantuchova, Anastasia Myskina, Amelie Mauresmo and boasted 4 of the to 7 women players in the world. Aswell as Karol Kucera, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Marat Safin. Previous players Monica Seles, Serena Williams, Paradorn Shrichipan, Monica Hingis, Pat Cash, Mark Phillipousis, Jelena Dokic.

The crowds, the name after one of the great Tennis players in modern eras, ITF sanctioning as the official mixed team competition in Tennis, that it is the only tournament in the world that offers this type of competition. The fact that the same players come back year after year, we see the emergence of players like Molik and Clijsters.

We see massive nation wide exposure, every match shown, live around the nation. The players feel more relaxed because of the environment they are at, in a resort. This is simply an amazing tennis tournament.

James the Hopman Cup is part of Perths Heritage and is no doubt the second most prestigious tournament in Australia, so I doubt very much whether it will ever be moved from Perth and has been guaranteed in Perth till 2007 and thereafter if there is a venue available.





t

[cam]

The Hopman Cup is second on the list as the most illustrious tournament in Australia, simply due to the quality of the field, the attendance, venue, and most importantly run by Paul McNamee.

No comment.

You can now vote on this issue! Simply visit the austadiums Sports Section: www.austadiums.com/sport

[Jeffles]

YOU ARE KIDDING YOURSELF EGAN!!

Well you know who I am voting for.

The Hopman Cup cannot even get a gig on Commercial TV. Prestige?

The field of the Hopman Cup has, over the years, featred some good players. But Sydney has it for overall depth.

Whoever the tournament director is doesn't mean a thing. It's a paid job not a "prestigious" appoinment.

The attendances, while good, are still dwarfed by Sydney.

Who it is named after is irrelevant.

The reason that it is the only ITF sanctioned mixed teams event is bvecause it is the ONLY one. No one else tried. That is a title by default.

Perth's "Heritage". Please. It has only been around since the late 1980s. I suppose other icons of the time such as Yahoo Serious should become part of the national fabric. Give me a break!

[the guy]

You are all fighting over second rate minor tournaments, bottom line is both perth and sydney tournaments suck, Australian Open in Melbourne (And you'll deny it, but i know it just makes all you Sydney-siders jealous)

[Jeffles]

I do not give a toss that the Open is in Melbourne. Actually I love it. Makes for a great holiday. Go down to watch the pen and catch a one dayer while I'm there. The hottest two weeks of the year for the Bleak City. I think it is great.