Nottingham loses ATP 250 tournament
This year’s ATP 250 Aegon Open Nottingham will be last 250 ranking event in city after the Lawn Tennis Association revealed this morning that it is moving the event back to Eastbourne.
Nottingham won the rights to host the ATP 250 event only last year. From 2017, the pre-existing ATP 250 Aegon Open Nottingham event will move back to Eastbourne, merging with the WTA Premier Aegon International to form a combined event (as it was from 2009-2014)
Next year, Nottingham Tennis Centre will host a combined men and women’s tennis tournament. The tournament will comprise the women’s $250,000 WTA International Aegon Open Nottingham alongside a men’s $100,000 ATP Challenger event.
Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “We fully respect the LTA’s and ATP’s decision to reschedule their series of tournaments, seeking to enhance the British grass court season in the lead up to Wimbledon, and we are sure local people will relish the opportunity to see both men’s and women’s professional tennis at Nottingham Tennis Centre as part of a new look combined one-week event from 2017.
“When Nottingham secured the ATP 250 for 2015, we knew it might only be for one year. Of course we understand there will be some disappointment to lose the ATP 250 event after 2016.
“However, we are very proud of the work we’ve done here in Nottingham to help break down some of the barriers to playing tennis and to engage a much more diverse audience, including children from local inner-city schools.”
Michael Downey, LTA CEO said: “We are delighted to announce an extension of our agreement with Nottingham, bringing together men’s and women’s tennis in the same week for the first time in nearly half a century.
“The message we received from our fans is they would like to see more combined tournaments. I would like to thank all our partners at the All England Club, Aegon, the ATP and WTA. In particular I would like to mention the support that Nottingham City Council and one of the best tennis venues in the country, Nottingham Tennis Centre has shown.
“This has truly been a collaborative effort to take our tournaments to another level of excellence. Ultimately, our tournaments are a shop window on our sport and we want to use them to jump-start the six-week grass court summer season of tennis, and inspire more people to pick up a racket and play tennis.
“Working with our partners and colleagues in Nottingham, and across the East Midlands, the tournament will play a key role in driving participation in the region.”
