Brisbane locked in for World Team Cup tennis but Adelaide still hopeful of international event

WHY there are opportunities beyond tennis’ 2020 World Team Cup for Adelaide to again have international tennis at Memorial Drive.

US doubles great Bob Bryan at the 2018 World Tennis Challenge. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AAP

SOUTH Australian tennis authorities remain confident in bringing top-class international tennis back to Adelaide despite it increasingly looking like an uphill battle to help host the January 2020 World Team Cup.

It comes as Tennis Australia has guaranteed Brisbane would be part of “two or three” cities to host the 24-team, $15million event which will make it the biggest event outside of the grand slams.

The logical host cities outside of Brisbane are Sydney and Perth because of the effect the international event will have on their lead-up tournaments to the Australian Open.

But it is not all gloom for SA, which still could be a fourth host city if required but could also pick up an ATP and/or a WTA event as a result of the existing Brisbane and

Sydney tournaments likely to be compromised when the new event arrives.

It could open the door for Adelaide to pick up the crumbs and host a pre-Australian event for those not taking part in the World Tennis Cup as there is still a need to continue to have regular tour-stops and lead-up events for the Australian Open.

The biggest issue for Memorial Drive is to have the centre court compliant with ATP and WTA regulations, but Tennis SA chief executive Steven Baldas was confident that could be done without breaking the bank.

The stage one $10 million development of Memorial Drive will be finished for the summer of 2019-2020 with a showcourt and six match courts; the final piece would be to create a satisfactory centre court.

The latest development, guaranteeing Brisbane hosting rights, has not dented SA’s enthusiasm for bringing the new event to Australia.

Baldas was confident the players would be supportive an event in Adelaide to complement exhibition event the World Tennis Challenge.

“The World Team Cup is magnificent for Australia and Australian tennis,” Baldas said. “It also provides plenty of opportunities for South Australia.

“We’re very well positioned to bring major content back to Adelaide.

“We have a great advantage because of our location.

“We’re close to world-class accommodation, world-class facilities, close to the airport and a short one-hour flight to Melbourne.

“The players should look favourably on South Australia as a destination of choice before the Australian Open.”

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told The Advertiser Brisbane was a lock for the World Team Cup but that other details were still to be worked out.

“At this point, there is talk about two to three cities (hosting WTC ties), about 24 teams and five players per team _ this is what the ATP have put on the table that they would like to see,’’ Tiley told The Courier-Mail from London last night.

“Some aspects of it including the exact dates are being worked through with stakeholders in Australia, but it will be a minimum of a 10-day event (from the 14-day window before the Australian Open starts).

“The prizemoney of $US15 million makes it the biggest event outside the Grand Slams. We will have the world’s best players male in Australia in January for as long as possible and we have protected week one (of January for Australian tennis).’’

Asked if Brisbane will be one of those host cities, Tiley said: “Absolutely, 100 per cent.

“Brisbane and the state of Queensland are one of our most successful tennis stories. This is the next step to build on that legacy.”