Moorilla Hobart International is moving back to a Saturday afternoon final and introducing two extra sessions of play for the 2010 event.
Planning for Tasmania’s premier tennis event is well advanced with improved spectator and corporate facilities.
Moorilla Hobart International Tournament Director Michael Roberts said his team was constantly looking at ways to improve the tournament for everyone involved.
“We know we have a quality event but we also know that the sports entertainment bar keeps rising and we have to be looking at improvements every year,” Roberts explained today.
“So with this in mind, we have shifted the final in the interests of both players and fans,” he said.
The event went to a night final six years ago but organisers believe the schedule it is planning for 2010 will ensure better and more tennis for the Tasmanian public. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has formally agreed to the move.
“Our aim is to provide conditions conducive to the best tennis possible and the best tennis fan experience possible,” Roberts said. “The scheduling changes will ensure a more relaxed and player-friendly environment which is always going to be conducive to better tennis. Tasmanian Government funding will enable us to provide a more comfortable facility for fans and our ticket price structure will ensure very affordable entertainment and value for money, with ticket prices starting from $9.90.”
Roberts said it was too early to start speculating on players for next year’s event but assured that talks with players and managers were “well and truly underway” to assemble another world class field for the 2010 event.