AEGON British Tennis Tour coming to Exeter

Exeter Tennis Centre, based in the Sports Park at the University of Exeter, is staging its first AEGON British Tour event from Thursday 10th – Tuesday 15 February with a Mini Tennis Red festival on Sunday 13th February.

The AEGON British Tour is a circuit of 35 national events held throughout 2011, with a Masters event in Nottingham for the top 32 players at the end of the circuit. With a total of over £22,000 in prize money available throughout the year, it not only acts as a great opportunity for high quality competition, it also provides the chance to earn some money.

Exeter is breaking new ground by being the furthest south Grade 2 event and staging the first Thursday – Tuesday format.

There have been 166 entries for the Exeter event (100 men & 66 women). The Men’s event includes three British players with a World Ranking (Marshall Tutu, Oliver Hudson, and Stefan Sterland-Markovic), and has a main draw cut off of a 3.2 rating or better. The Women’s list is headed up by Michaela Ince and Exeter University first year student and Tennis scholar Yvanna Kurlak, with a main draw cut off of 4.2.

University of Exeter students who have entered include Tennis Scholars Alex Parry and Chris Gardiner and High Performance players Chris Salisbury, James Atkinson, Joe Simpson, Kate Lucy, Lucy Forward, Ellie Morad and Elena Shumay. Local juniors are also well represented and led by 16 and under British number 1 Jack Findel-Hawkins. They all want to face the challenge of higher ranked and older players and include: - Lara Graney, Rachel Williams, Sam Kenshole, Oskar Wynne, Howard Scott, Peter Underhill and Marc Sillifant.

Play is scheduled to start from 0900 each day at Exeter Tennis Centre at the University of Exeter Sports Park and is free for spectators to watch.

On Sunday 13th February 1300 - 1600 families are being encouraged to get involved as well! Exeter Tennis Centre players who have entered will be available to play with families in a friendly social Mini Tennis Red tournament.

For more information contact: Will McNally. Director of Tennis. w.j.mcnally@exeter.ac.uk or 01392 723699