|
There is plenty at stake at the SA National tennis tournament this
year. The winner will receive a wildcard entry into the South African
Tennis Open, to be played at Montecasino in Johannesburg from 2 to 8
February.
Three wildcards are available for the ATP World Tour event and two
of those have already been granted to South African players Rik de
Voest and Raven Klaasen.
De Voest has been one of the stalwarts of the SA Davis Cup team over
the past few years, and with his current ranking of 157 just failed to
make it into the main draw.
2008 quarter-finalist
Last year, in East London, the 28-year-old reached the
quarter-finals before losing to top seed and eventual winner Ivan
Ljubicic 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 in one of the most exciting matches of the
tournament.
Klaasen, 26, finished the year with victories in Futures events in
South Africa and Botswana, and earlier in the year he captured a title
in the USA. Klaasen is currently ranked 356.
"Both Rik and Raven have given a lot to South African tennis over
the past few years and we at the SA Tennis Association, as well as our
sponsors, believe both deserve their wildcards," said SATA chief
executive Ian Smith.
"By giving a wildcard to the SA Nationals' winner we are challenging many of our younger players to perform well in the event."
SA Nationals
The SA Nationals will be played from 26 to 30 January, with qualifying taking place on 24 and 25 January.
The qualifying event and the first two rounds on 26 and 27 January
will be played at The Wanderers. The quarterfinal stage and onwards
will be played at Montecasino.
Entries for the SA Nationals close on Monday, 19 January. Players can register on the SA Tennis website.
Tickets
Tickets for the SA Open will be available at the Montecasino box
office and from Computicket, on 083 915 8000 or (011) 340 8000, or through the Computicket website from 1 December.
COSTS
Monday: day, 1pm, R25 court one and R40 centre court
Monday: evening, 7pm, R25 court one and R40 centre court
Tuesday: day, 1pm, R25 court one and R40 centre court
Tuesday: evening, 7pm, R25 court one and R40 centre court
Wednesday: one session, 4pm, R50 court one, R75 centre court
Thursday: one session, 4pm, R50 court one, R75 centre court
Friday: quarterfinals, 4pm, R75 court one and R100 centre court
Saturday: semifinals, 1pm, R120
Sunday: final, 1pm R150, centre court
Source: SA Tennis Open
|
