09.05.2012 13:56:14 |
Tournament director's, Petra Langrova, letter:
Dear Tennis Friends,
19th year of the most important Czech tennis event UniCredit Czech Open is approaching and it is worth noting that the hosting town's Prostejov Tennis Club recorded a highly successful season last year. Indeed, within the last few years our players really become significant figures of the world tennis history. There is no other club in the world having so many representatives in national Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams and also a Wimbledon finalist and winner within two years. Last year Petra Kvitova became a sovereign leader of the Czech woman's team on its route to Fed Cup victory and this year the team made its way into the finals under her leadership again. Similarly, Czech Davis Cup team advanced among the last four best teams to clash with Argentina for the finals soon.
Last year the hosting town of UniCredit Czech Open, Prostejov, repeatedly proved to be the Mecca of tennis in the Czech Republic - for the first time in Czechoslovak and Slovak history Prostejov's players won all Czech team championship and added six gold medals in individual championships - minitennis, babytennis, younger and older schoolchildren, juniors and adult extra league. The Czech team to win Galea Cup last year was completely made of Prostejov players. In addition, Prostejov Tennis Club has got two representatives in Top 10 of ATP and WTA rankings - Tomas Berdych is only a small step behind the absolute world top and Petra Kvitova was so close to become WTA's no. 1. I believe she will manage this year.
For me it is the 14th year on the position of the UniCredit Czech Open tournament director and I highly appreciate being given the chance by Mr. Miroslav Cernosek in 1999. I remember that in my first year one of the finalists was Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who became ATP's no. 1 four years later. Yes, within the tournaments 18 year history our splendid tennis facilities hosted 23 players who had ranked before or would rank afterwards in ATP Top 10! Ferrero and Kuerten made it to the very top and became the kings of the ATP ranking. We are happy that all Czech players (except for Jan Kodes) who have ever ranked among Top 10 players took part in our tournament. Let me name them - Peter Korda, no. 2, Jiri Novak no. 5, Tomas Berdych no. 6, Radek Stepanek no. 8, Karel Novacek no. 8. And although the most famous Czech tennis player, Ivan Lendl, has never officially participated in the competition he recently became a regular participant of exhibition matches.
This year we are going to enjoy another busy week full of beautiful games that will be even more interesting as for many players they will present the last chance to win points into ATP ranking and achieve a nomination for the London Olympic Games. The state of the ATP ranking after Rolland Garros and UniCredit Czech Open will be the breaking point and will either open or close the door to the Olympics. We all are looking forward to an attractive line-up as well as associated events because the realization team have done a lot of work to prepare another perfect tennis festival. Let me remind you of one more thing, during the celebrations of 111th anniversary of tennis in Prostejov Miroslav Cernosek said: ". our club is not only about producing stars and wining competitions, there are also lots of amateur players and we all belong to one big tennis family." Yes, Prostejov's tennis would never be so successful without the group of enthusiasts who willingly and devotedly take part in the preparation of the tournament.
We also appreciate there are so many famous Czech companies with us, and many of them from the very beginning. The same applies to the town of Prostejov that is an official partner of all sports, social and cultural events of TK PLUS, and our cooperation with Olomouc Region is also successful.
Eventually, let me say thank you to everybody who is involved in the tournament - UniCredit Czech Open, Czech Tennis Association and other partners, and, of course, to Mr. Miroslav Cernosek who is looking for essential financial funding of our event.
UniCredit Czech Open is writing the Czech tennis history and we are really proud of it.
Petra Langrova
UniCredit Czech Open tournament director
and a head of all tennis projects of TK PLUS
