Hume Tennis and Community Centre was awarded ” 2017 Victorian Tournament of the Year” at the Victorian Awards held at The Park, Albert Park in Melbourne on Monday October 23rd.
World Number 1 Gordon Reed serves at the 2017 Melbourne Wheelchair Open
The award was for the 2017 Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open which sees the best wheelchair players in the world compete. This was only the second time the tournament has been held at Hume Tennis and Community Centre and considering Hume only opened in 2015 – is a huge compliment to the staff and volunteers who delivered the event.
The Victorian State Government was the major sponsor and with contributions from Hume City Council, Tennis Australia, Tennis Victoria and many local businesses meant players had a great week and were well looked after. The tournament included: transport, catering, player services, accreditation etc… just like a mini Australian Open.
The tournament is one of 3 major wheelchair tennis tournaments held in Australia over January and the significance of the Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open is players play this event as a lead in to the Australian Open.
Even more exciting is the 2018 Melbourne Wheelchair Open has been upgraded to Grade 1 status making it just one of eight International Tennis Federation tournaments globally. The players who come from every continent in the world will play for greater prize money ($40,000 AUD) and enjoy lots more of Aussie hospitality.
Trophy presentation from the 2017 Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open
The 2017 tournament, for the first time, featured a junior event. Holly Tawse from Tennis Australia said, “It is great recognition for wheelchair tennis and also for the team from Hume who present the tournament”. “Wheelchair tennis is growing in Australia and we have a big goal to hopefully find the next Australian Gold Medalist to follow in the footsteps of Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson”, Tawse went on to say.
Junior boys competed for the first time at the Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open
Hume Tennis and Community Centre has become a major venue on the Australian tennis tournament scene with events throughout the year for juniors and seniors. The tournaments are sanctioned by Tennis Australia/Tennis Victoria and provide a pathway for those players with big dreams. The 2018 tennis tournament schedule at Hume can be view HERE
Hume Tennis and Community Centre is a 16 court complex situated just 15 minutes from Melbourne International Airport and is considered by many as a mini Melbourne Park. To find out more information about upcoming tournaments – please call 1300 HUME TC (486 382).