Big entries for 95th SLT Nationals

Begins on August 26th:

Richard Dwight

The Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) which had its origin in 1915 has done much to promote the game by periodically holding competitions. But the premier tournament listed on the SLTA tournament calendar in the nationals – the 95th National Tennis Championship takes place at its Hard Courts from August 26 to September 3.

The prestigious nature of the tournament does attract all top ranked junior and senior players of the country, generating much enthusiasm amongst spectators and the media as well.

According to the match referee, Avantha Suranimala, who addressed the media at a briefing held at the SLTA on Thursday – the tournament will be conducted on the ITF Code of Conduct, all main draw men’s singles and double matches will be played best of five sets with tie break at six all, final, set being an advantage set, all main draw events will be restricted to 32 players.

The qualifying rounds will be played on August 25.

The SLTA anticipate to receive a total of 100 entries approximately and the veterans events is expected to receive around 45 entries.

The events comprise the men’s singles the winner of which will get 70,000, the men’s doubles winners will get Rs 20,000 each. The women’s singles winner will get Rs 40,000 and women’s doubles will get Rs 7,500 each. There will also be a mixed doubles event.

The seniors singles and doubles events would be played separately where all tennis players over 35 years of age would be participating - in addition there will be wheelchair singles and doubles as well.

Assistance has been received by Dunlop who will provide the ITF proven Dunlop Fort the official ball for the tournament.

The President of the SLTA, Maxwell de Silva observed that tennis is being actively pursued in N’ Eliya, Bandarawela, Kandy and a tangible effort was made to establish a tennis court in St Anthony’s College, Wattala with aims of opening same in Jaffna. De Silva disclosed that Harshan Godamanna, Rajeev Rajapakse, T. Dineshkanthan and Amirtha Muttiah representing Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

He also revealed that if ratified by the Ministry, Harshana Godamanna, Dinesh Kanthan and Amaresh Jayawickreme will participate in the Asian Games in Shanghai.