Albury NSW 2640, Australia, 30 November 2018 | tennis.com.au

International tennis will return to Albury for the first time since 2003 when the AlburyCity Tennis International, an ITF Pro Tour tournament, returns to the town’s grass courts from 25 February to 3 March 2019.

In a big coup for the border, Albury Tennis Association, in conjunction with AlburyCity Council, Tennis Australia and Tennis NSW, will host top men’s players from around the world as well as a crop of up-and-coming Australian tennis stars.

They will compete for USD $25,000 in prize money and valuable international ranking points.

February will also see Albury host a Platinum Men’s AMT (Australian Money Tournament) and a Platinum Women’s AMT, seeing the month dubbed the Albury Festival of Tennis.

Platinum AMT’s are the pinnacle competition for Australian tennis players outside of the Australian Pro Tour events and provide maximum Australian ranking points.

All events will be free to watch and will also host a multitude of opportunities for locals to engage with including Come and Try sessions, kids’ activations and other entertainment to be revealed.

AlburyCity Mayor Kevin Mack said the AlburyCity Tennis International will be a fantastic event for the local community to support and be involved with.

“Albury-Wodonga is a leading sporting community with a great track record in hosting competitions at all levels so we’re really looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s best tennis players when this fantastic tournament kicks off,” he said.

“Not only will it give locals and visitors a chance to see high-calibre tennis, it will also provide a valuable boost to the economy and strengthen our standing as a first-class sporting destination.”

Albury Tennis Association President Ken Wurtz is excited about hosting the event.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Albury to showcase high quality tennis,” Wurtz said.

“We’re excited about the impact that these players will have on our local clubs, schools and wider community and we’re positive that these players will enjoy some of the best country hospitality in Albury.

“We encourage all locals to come down to the Albury grass courts and join in on the action.”

Tennis NSW Head of Participation Matt Starr is looking forward to supporting the event.

“We’re delighted to partner with AlburyCity Council and Albury Tennis Association to deliver a great spectacle for tennis in NSW,” Starr said.

“Albury has some of the best grass courts in the country and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome the Australian Pro Tour back to the Border.

“The event is a fantastic opportunity for Albury and the region, bringing international tennis to town for the local community to support. I’m sure it will inspire many future stars and regional players to get involved and pick up a racquet.”

Albury Festival of Tennis details

Australian Pro Tour fast facts

• The Australian Pro Tour consists of International Tennis Federation (ITF) men’s and women’s and ATP Challenger tournaments
• The Australian Pro Tour gives players the opportunity to compete on an international level and create a pathway to the WTA and ATP Tours
• The calendar includes 28 tournaments held across all states and territories between September 2018 and April 2019
• The total prize pool for the Australian Pro Tour series is more than USD $1,000,000
• Top Australian tennis players including Ash Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Sam Stosur, Nick Kyrgios, Alex de Minaur, John Millman, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis are some of the players who have progressed via the Australian Pro Tour onto top international major events on the WTA and ATP tours.