After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament is set to return this summer and is seeking corporate support. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool International Tennis Tournament is looking for the backing of the city region business community as the event looks to make a return this summer.
Last year would have been the 19th tournament, before it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two decades it has become one of the biggest events in the Merseyside business calendar, attracting thousands of spectators.
The 18th tournament in 2019, held at its usual venue, Liverpool Cricket Club in Aigburth, welcomed more than 5,000 spectators, including 2,000 corporate guests. Staged across four days, the crowds saw Mansour Bahrami compete in the legends tournament and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and Pablo Lorenzi of Italy lift the women’s and men’s titles respectively.
It has grown into the longest running and largest tennis exhibition in Europe and regularly features ATP and WTA players warming up for Wimbledon. Long-time organiser Anders Borg aims to stage the 2021 tournament from June 23 to June 26, with the possibility of two extra days being added.
Under the Government’s road map out of the COVID-19 lockdown, all restrictions may be lifted by June 21, just days before the tournament is due to start. Anders says he has pencilled in alternative dates in August if the road map timetable were to change.
Previous headline sponsors have included Williams BMW, Liverpool Hope University and Medicash. Now Anders’ company, Northern Vision, is seeking a new headline sponsor. However, he acknowledges how difficult the economic environment is for many businesses.
He told LBN: “Due to social distancing restrictions we will be looking at a scaled-down capacity for this year’s tournament. We are quite optimistic we can deliver an event for 1,000 spectators, including corporate guests, over the course of the tournament.
“The support of Liverpool city region’s business community over the past 20 years has been amazing. They have helped transform the tournament into a premier event. Each year corporate guests come from all over the North West to watch top class tennis, enjoy great food and networking.”
The Liverpool International also takes it wider social responsibilities seriously and, with the support of its sponsors, has worked closely with charities to get as many kids involved in sport as possible.
“We are hoping that all our sponsors that signed up for the 2020 event will return,” said Anders. “But we fully understand that this might be difficult for some businesses hence we are on the outlook for sponsors that have fared better during COVID.
“We will obviously follow all Government rules around COVID and we have back up dates in August if we need them. We feel for everyone’s health and well being that we need to start looking on the bright side. I really do feel the vaccination programme in the UK will be a world leader and that the country can open up long before anyone else in Europe.”
Anders has said he will confirm which players will be taking part in this year’s tournament later in the spring or early summer. Click here for more information.