Israel secures top ATP men’s tennis competition after 25 year wait
The Tel Aviv Watergen Open will be held over eight days in September with players competing for nearly $1,200,000 in prize money.
More than 25 years after it last hosted a major tennis competition, Israel is getting ready to welcome 20 of the world’s top-ranked male players at the Tel Aviv Watergen Open, beginning on 25 September.
Taking place under the auspices of the Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, the competition will be held over eight days, with singles and doubles finals on 2 October. The players will compete for nearly $1,200,000 in prize money in daily matches at the Expo Tel Aviv complex. The second and third days of the contest will be over Rosh Hashanah.
Organisers say that the tournament is coming to Israel thanks to a joint effort by the Israel Tennis Association and Watergen, the competition’s official sponsor. Watergen’s technology produces potable drinking water from air moisture and is a familiar name in more than 60 countries, including the Middle East.
Watergen president Dr Michael Mirilashvili, a long-time tennis fan, expressed his enthusiasm about the tournament.
He said: “We have been working on this for a long time and we are thrilled that our efforts to host a tennis tournament of this magnitude has paid off. I’m sure that sports and tennis enthusiasts in Israel will enjoy an extraordinary experience. This is truly wonderful news”.
In a statement, the Israel Tennis Association said: “We are very excited that a tournament of this magnitude is coming to Israel. This is a perfect opportunity for all tennis lovers in Israel to watch top-class tennis players up close while enjoying a tremendous tennis experience. We thank Watergen for its commitment to the sport, and especially to Dr Mirilashvili, who for years has contributed to the cause of promoting tennis in Israel.”
Details about the tournament, ticket sales, tournament schedule and more can be found on the tournament website www.tawo.co.il
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