Tennis: Heineken Open a success

Tournament director Graham Pearce is a happy man after the completion of the Heineken Tennis Open over the weekend.

Although attendance figures are yet to be finalised, Pearce has rated this year's tournament, won by Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, as one of the best with which he has been involved, with sell out crowds and near perfect weather.

Pearce says for the past two years the weather has been perfect, and it is no coincidence they have both been great tournaments.

However, the organisers are not sitting on their hands, with planning for next year's event already underway.

Pearce says they have spoken to some of this year's players about returning and is confident of assembling another good field in 2007.

Exposure for the tournament has lifted to new heights, as it will probably go as down as the most watched Heineken Open, with action beamed live into South America and most of Europe.

- NEWSTALK ZB