New Cairns Regional Tennis Centre to host Davis Cup tie

Cairns' long-awaited new tennis centre will open in September with the Cairns International, an Australian Pro-Tour event, followed by Australia hosting Belgium in a Davis Cup.

Thereafter, Cairns will host two tournaments that will attract both top-10 Australian players and highly ranked international juniors.

When it opens, the $5.5 million facility at the North Cairns Reserve will offer 12 courts built to International Tennis Federation standards, a show court with a portable grandstand and a second synthetic hockey pitch.

The facility will also include a two-storey clubhouse with a gymnasium, pro-shop and function room.

Janine Jenner-Bruno of Tennis Queensland says the Cairns facility will be the only regional centre in Queensland with plexi-cushion surfaces.

The Cairns Tennis International is being held from 4th to 12th September 2010, with Lleyton Hewitt is expected to lead Australia's bid to return to the world group of the Davis Cup in its qualifying tie against Belgium from 17th to 19th September.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier explains that "the Cairns Tennis International will attract an international and national sport tourism crowd, placing Cairns on the map as a major tennis host."

The Cairns City Council has spent $2.5 million on the centre, the Queensland Government committed $1.9 million while Tennis Queensland funded the balance.

For more information go to www.qldevents.com.au 

30th June 2008 - TENNIS: AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR SPORT