TZ put Futures tourney on hold

Zimbabwe Open after failing to secure sponsorship to host two International Tennis Federation Futures events.
TZ had requested to have the Zimbabwe Open awarded ITF Futures’ status and the International Tennis Federation accepted their request last month on the basis that they run two events – one after the other.
The local national association needed US$18 000 for each tournament and they managed to get sponsorship for the Zimbabwe Open and are yet to get funds for the other event.

Nhokwara said they were now going ahead with the staging of the Zimbabwe Open without the Futures status after failing to secure sponsorship in time to host the two tournaments as required by the ITF.
“We will have the Zimbabwe Open separately from December 5 to 9.
“Ideally, we are now pursuing it (the Futures events) for next year because we do not have enough time to host the tournament this year.

“We had said we will host the events at the end of November.
“Hopefully we will host the ITF Futures events in the first quarter of the year in 2012,” said Nhokwara.
The TZ administrator said the people they had approached had already done their budget and had indicated that they are willing to sponsor next year’s events.

“The people we approached were way out of their budget and were not ready to offer us a big sponsorship for this year.
“Nothing concrete has been said and because of time compliance, we had to make a decision, even if we get sponsorship now it will be late to do marketing for such a big tournament.
“For next year, they have said it’s very possible for them to sponsor the event.

“They have also said that they are happy to bankroll the Futures events on their own.
“We will have to marry one of the events to the Zimbabwe Open for another tournament,” said Nhokwara.

He also said that it is unfortunate now that the event will no longer have the ITF points as most players had hoped to acquire points during the tournaments.
“Unfortunately, for the players, they only lose in terms of points as they were hoping to get some points. However, the monetary prize promised is still the same.”
Tennis Zimbabwe will be sending a circular to all clubs and regional players soon so that they can start the registration process for those who want to take part in the Zimbabwe Open.