Tennis aces return to Rotterdam
ROTTERDAM - Six of the world’s top ten players will go head-to-head this month in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. JOEP DERKSEN reports on the spectacular growth of Rotterdam’s most famous competition.
Every year in February, nearly 100,000 tennis lovers gather in Rotterdam to watch top tennis players at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Since 1974 the event has evolved from a small tennis event to a prestigious tournament with ATP-500 status. Tennis greats like Arthur Ashe, Tom Okker, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Andy Murray and Robin Söderling have tried - and sometimes succeeded - in landing first place.
From 7 until 13 February, many top players will return to Rotterdam with one goal in mind: claiming the title and seeing their name on the board when they return. Stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have competed in the tournament in the past. Bringing their best to Ahoy Rotterdam, Federer crowned himself winner in 2005 and Nadal reached the final in 2009.
Opened in 1971, the Ahoy hall is the host to various outstanding sports and entertainment events as well as large exhibitions. Then-tournament director Peter Bonthuis managed to set up a tennis tournament that was part of the World Championship of Tennis. Later, Bonthuis was succeeded by Wim Buitendijk, who had a vision of how to grow the tournament into a successful international tennis event. His death in 2002 was a low point for everyone who cared for the tournament, however the tournament has continued its excellence thanks to successors Stan Franker and today’s director, former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.
Dimitri Bonthuis, marketing and communications of the tournament, can easily sum up some of the highlights from past years. “We have had some great finals. In 1979 for instance, Borg beat McEnroe with 6-4 and 6-2. Top tennis players such as Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Andy Murray won that tournament, but we have also had Dutch winners: Tom Okker, Richard Krajicek en Jan Siemerink.”
In 2009, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was granted the ATP Tournament of the Year Award Europe, a recognition from tennis professionals of the outstanding preparation and execution of the tournament each year. As tournament director, Krajicek tries to persuade Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to return to Rotterdam each year. Unfortunately, they will not make it this February. “These players are above any ranking,” says Krajicek. “As long as they play tennis, we would like to welcome them to our tournament. We have achieved to get Nadal or Federer come to Rotterdam on a regular basis, which is rather unique since every tournament in the world invites these top two players.”
Every year in February, nearly 100,000 tennis lovers gather in Rotterdam to watch top tennis players at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Since 1974 the event has evolved from a small tennis event to a prestigious tournament with ATP-500 status. Tennis greats like Arthur Ashe, Tom Okker, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Andy Murray and Robin Söderling have tried - and sometimes succeeded - in landing first place.
From 7 until 13 February, many top players will return to Rotterdam with one goal in mind: claiming the title and seeing their name on the board when they return. Stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have competed in the tournament in the past. Bringing their best to Ahoy Rotterdam, Federer crowned himself winner in 2005 and Nadal reached the final in 2009.
Opened in 1971, the Ahoy hall is the host to various outstanding sports and entertainment events as well as large exhibitions. Then-tournament director Peter Bonthuis managed to set up a tennis tournament that was part of the World Championship of Tennis. Later, Bonthuis was succeeded by Wim Buitendijk, who had a vision of how to grow the tournament into a successful international tennis event. His death in 2002 was a low point for everyone who cared for the tournament, however the tournament has continued its excellence thanks to successors Stan Franker and today’s director, former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.
Dimitri Bonthuis, marketing and communications of the tournament, can easily sum up some of the highlights from past years. “We have had some great finals. In 1979 for instance, Borg beat McEnroe with 6-4 and 6-2. Top tennis players such as Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Andy Murray won that tournament, but we have also had Dutch winners: Tom Okker, Richard Krajicek en Jan Siemerink.”
In 2009, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was granted the ATP Tournament of the Year Award Europe, a recognition from tennis professionals of the outstanding preparation and execution of the tournament each year. As tournament director, Krajicek tries to persuade Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to return to Rotterdam each year. Unfortunately, they will not make it this February. “These players are above any ranking,” says Krajicek. “As long as they play tennis, we would like to welcome them to our tournament. We have achieved to get Nadal or Federer come to Rotterdam on a regular basis, which is rather unique since every tournament in the world invites these top two players.”
Still, 2011 will welcome a wonderful players list with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Robin Söderling and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga among others. Boasting six tennis players from the world’s top ten is not a bad achievement at all. Of course, Dutch top players Robin Haase and Thiemo de Bakker (who belong to the ATP top 70) will also be joining the impressive line-up.
“This year, for the first time in years, we have the second strongest players list we could ever welcome,” says Krajicek. “It looks like it will be an incredibly competitive tournament. Three players from the top-5, six from the top-10 and nine from the top-15 players. I am very pleased with this result.” One of the reasons tennis players like Rotterdam is the excellent way they are treated. Almost no expense is spared to make the players comfortable on and off the court. And this year, the players will perform in Ahoy Rotterdam’s all new Sportpaleis.
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament has also organised a Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Esther Vergeer, who has been undefeated in wheelchair tennis since 2004 and has won 401 matches since, is the director of this special event, which celebrates its third anniversary in February. She managed to persuade all of wheelchair tennis’s top players to come to Rotterdam. It will be an extra incentive to visit the tennis tournament.
For more information visit: www.abnamrowtt.nl.
“This year, for the first time in years, we have the second strongest players list we could ever welcome,” says Krajicek. “It looks like it will be an incredibly competitive tournament. Three players from the top-5, six from the top-10 and nine from the top-15 players. I am very pleased with this result.” One of the reasons tennis players like Rotterdam is the excellent way they are treated. Almost no expense is spared to make the players comfortable on and off the court. And this year, the players will perform in Ahoy Rotterdam’s all new Sportpaleis.
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament has also organised a Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Esther Vergeer, who has been undefeated in wheelchair tennis since 2004 and has won 401 matches since, is the director of this special event, which celebrates its third anniversary in February. She managed to persuade all of wheelchair tennis’s top players to come to Rotterdam. It will be an extra incentive to visit the tennis tournament.
For more information visit: www.abnamrowtt.nl.
Update: On Friday 4 February, Novak Djokovic announced that he will not compete in Rotterdam, due to an injury.
Published in "The Holland Times".
posted by Joep J.B. Derksen @ 10:00 a.m.
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