The dates and venues have been confirmed for what is set to be an exciting three weeks of tennis around the New Zealand with the ASB Pro Circuit tennis Futures worth a total of US$75,000 in prizemoney to be held in North Harbour, Hamilton and Wellington.
The first of the three week circuit will be hosted at North Harbour 9-15 March at the Albany Tennis Park with a US$15,000 men’s professional ITF (International Tennis Federation) tournament and US$10,000 women’s pro ITF tournament.
The following week the ASB Pro Circuit moves to Hamilton at the ASB Waikato Tennis Centre 16-22 March with two more tournaments of the same prizemoney.
The final week of the circuit will be at Wellington’s Renouf Tennis Centre 23-29 March again with US$15,000 and US$10,000 prizemoney up for grabs for the rising stars of tennis from around the world.
Close to 20 different nationalities usually take part in the events which are used to gain valuable ATP and WTA world ranking points and brings professional tennis to the public in New Zealand.
Some of the players who have competed in Futures tournaments in New Zealand and gone on to make an impact in world tennis include, Swede Joachim Johansson who played in 2001 (Tauranga and Christchurch events) went on to reach a career-high ATP ranking of No9 in 2005.
Others to have gained significant rankings after their exploits in the Futures here are Israel’s Harel Levy (highest rank of 30), Switzerland’s Yves Allegro (71), Czech, Ivo Minar (64) and many of the world’s top-50 doubles players.
In the women’s rankings Magdelina Rybarikova from Slovakia currently ranked at 51 along with Kiwi Marina Erakovic, 56th and Australian teenager Jessica Moore at 139 have all played in Futures events in New Zealand in recent years.
All of the main Kiwi men are expected to take part in the ASB Pro Circuit including Rubin Statham ranked at 417 followed by Dan King-Turner, GD Jones and Wellington teenager Finn Tearney along with a host of others.
Canterbury teenager Ellen Barry is hoping to return from a sustained injury break to try and defend her Hamilton title. Barry, 20 has a current WTA ranking of 322. Also confirmed are Fed Cup reps, Di Hollands, Kairangi Vano and Shona Lee.
The first of the ASB Pro Circuit events will be preceded by the Davis Cup tie between New Zealand and Malaysia 6-8 March in the indoor courts at Albany Tennis Park, North Harbour.
www.asbprocircuit.co.nz
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