Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge, Tennis SA President Kent Thiele and CEO Steven Baldas were joined by the Hon. Anne Ruston, Senator for South Australia today to officially open the first stage of the Memorial Drive redevelopment.
Senator Ruston, along with the Hon. Corey Wingard MP, SA Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, were present to officially open the $9.79 million project that has revamped the Memorial Drive sporting precinct and ensures that the heritage of Memorial Drive is retained for years to come.
“South Australia has a proud tradition of producing professional tennis players and this new centre, which includes improved training and education facilities for clubs, coaches and volunteers, will go a long way towards keeping that tradition alive,” Senator Ruston said.
“The Liberal National Government was proud to partner with Tennis SA to cement Adelaide’s world-class sporting reputation,” she continued.
“The venue anchors tennis to the Riverbank Precinct and continues the proud history of Memorial Drive as the home of tennis in Adelaide,” Minister Wingard said.
“Thousands of budding tennis players will have the chance to access these facilities on a grassroots level, but it will also form a crucial part of the overall vision for Memorial Drive,” he continued.
Tennis SA CEO Steven Baldas described the opening as an exciting day for South Australian tennis.
“This venue provides state-of-the-art facilities for the next generation of tennis players to be able to train on all three Grand Slam surfaces allowing us to continue our proud legacy of producing world-class players such as Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alicia Molik, Darren Cahill and John Fitzgerald.”
“The completion of stage one has put us in the position to host events such as the Davis Cup (held in Adelaide in February) and to redevelop of our centre court stadium in preparation for the combined ATP and WTA event starting in January 2020,” Mr Baldas continued.
The $9.79 million Stage 1 project includes:
- A new outdoor sunken show court and six new match courts
- Tennis pavilion overlooking the show court, with ability to be used as an operational base for tennis and tournament activities within the precinct
- A five-court clay court centre with show court and pavilion
- Reestablishment of 13 natural grass courts and four new synthetic grass courts
- A state-of-the-art National Academy training venue with all three Grand Slam surfaces – clay, grass and hardcourt – so that South Australia can continue to produce world class players
- State-of-the-art LED lighting to tournament standard on all match and practice courts
- Improved amenities with walkways, shade, shelter and chilled water fountains
- Secure and dedicated access from Tennis SA Centre Courts to show court, tennis pavilion and new match courts
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