TENNIS IRELAND have finalised a major sponsorship deal with Rover Ireland enabling them to go ahead with plans to revamp the Women's Irish Open Championships.
The new deal means that the women's championship, one of the oldest in the world, has been up graded to a $25,000 event and is set to become a permanent fixture on the ITF's women's circuit. Previous $10,000 women's championships here have lacked similar ITF recognition.
Tennis Ireland's chief executive officer Des Allen is greatly encouraged by what he calls a "significant development". He is confident that it will lead to bigger things for the women's game.
In the absence of a counter attraction on the European circuit when competition begins on July 21st, the chances of a better quality of entry than that which could normally be expected for a similar ITF event are good.
Meanwhile, a round robin series of Davis Cup trials ahead of Ireland's match with Greece in Riverview next month has been arranged for the same venue on Sunday and Monday next.
The eight contestants are Robert Collins, John Doran, Joe Green, George McGill, John Rendina, David Mullins, Sean Cooper and Michael McMahon.
