The City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger will return in 2016 with a significant boost in prize money, from USD$50,000 to USD$75,000.
In 2015 the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger cemented its place in the summer of tennis and Australian Pro Tour, as a crucial lead-in event for players vying for a coveted place in the Emirates Australian Open Series and the Australian Open.
Tennis SA and Tennis Australia, in conjunction with the City of Onkaparinga and Happy Valley Tennis Club, will host the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger from Saturday 2 January to Sunday 10 January 2016.
One of the longest standing Australian Pro Tour events in South Australia, the tournament was upgraded to ATP Challenger status in 2015, giving players the opportunity to compete not only for considerable prize money but valuable world ranking points.
The tournament is fast going from strength to strength, with the 2015 event shortlisted for Sport SA’s Significant Event of the Year Award. The winner will be announced in late November.
“These ATP level events provide a very important springboard for players to move up the rankings and this event, being the week before Australian Open qualifying, will be a vital warm-up for players heading to Melbourne,” said Tennis Australia Pro Tour Manager, Fiona Luscombe.
“Following the success of the tournament over the past 10 years, we look forward to the local community getting behind the event again and thank the City of Onkaparinga for its continued support.”
Happy Valley Tennis Club will once again host the event in 2016.
“The City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger was a huge success for Happy Valley Tennis Club in 2015,” said Happy Valley Tennis Club President, Simon Longhurst.
“We are looking forward to another fantastic event and we thank the City of Onkaparinga for its generous support,” Longhurst added.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said the tournament was a highlight of the city’s summer events calendar.
“The City of Onkaparinga is delighted to be supporting and hosting the ATP Challenger event once again in 2016,” she said.
“The tournament provides a fantastic opportunity for locals to watch the world’s up-and-coming players close to home and for these tennis players to personally experience our wonderful region and all it has to offer.”
The City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger will form a major part of South Australia’s World Tennis Challenge (WTC) Be Active Challenge, set to take place throughout January.
“Tennis SA is thrilled to once again be including the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger in the WTC Be Active Challenge for 2016. The WTC Be Active Challenge forms South Australia’s largest tennis participation drive, with in excess of 15 events to be held across the state,” said Steven Baldas, Chief Executive Officer Tennis SA.
“We are incredibly proud of the 2015 event having been shortlisted for the Sport SA Significant Event of the Year Award and congratulate the team at Happy Valley Tennis Club for its tireless efforts.”
“We are excited to see the tournament grow again in 2016 and look forward some fantastic tennis action.”
The player field for the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger will be announced later this year.
For more information on the Australian Pro Tour or Tennis Australia visit tennis.com.au. For more information on the ATP Challenger Tour visit atpchallengertour.com.
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