Liverpool International Tennis Tournament returns this summer and organiser Northern Vision has secured Qube Residential as headline sponsor for the event. Tony McDonough reports
Organiser of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, Northern Vision, says it has secured a headline sponsor for this summer’s event.
Liverpool-based residential property management firm Qube Residential has signed up as title sponsor for the tournament which takes place from June 22 to 24.
First held in Calderstones Park in 2002, it has grown to become one of the biggest events in the Merseyside business calendar. Legends such as Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli, Ilie Nastase, Martina Hungis and Pat Cash have all played at the tournament.
In recent years the Liverpool International has established a regular home at Liverpool Cricket Club in Aigburth. It offers a capacity for 4,000 spectators and regularly welcomes between 1,000 and 1,500 corporate guests each year.
Last year saw Qiang Wang beat Nadia Podoroska in the final of the women’s tournament. She was coached by former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash. Bulgarian Dimitar Kuzmanov beat Marcus Willis to win the men’s singles trophy.
Securing sponsors and financial backing for the tournament has become an annual challenge for Northern Vision in recent years. In the early years of the tournament Liverpool City Council offered significant financial support.
However, in the years of austerity following the financial crash supporting the tournament became more difficult for the council to justify and it eventually fell away.
Tournament director Anders Borg told LBN that bringing on Qube, which offers residential property services in Liverpool and Manchester, was “fantastic news”.
He added: “Dave Seed and his team have attended the event numerous times over the years and Qube is a real local success story that we are proud to be associated with.
“For sponsors, tennis is a great sport. We have been supported by local, national and global brands over the years including KPMG, UBER, Hilton and Melia. They and their guests always have a fantastic day with top class sporting action and superb networking opportunities.”
Northern Vision has also established a strong reputation for its community work. It engages with local children not just during the tournament, but all year round.
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Anders said: “We have one of the best CSR and community engagement programmes around. We introduce thousands of kids to tennis throughout the year and organise five weeks of international junior tennis.
“Despite all the challenges, the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament has now reached its 21st years. We have succeeded in transforming Liverpool into a major UK tennis hub.”