Stars to turn out at Welti
Big-time international tennis comes to Shropshire later this month - with a former Grand Slam finalist and a string of Davis Cup stars on show. Big-time international tennis comes to Shropshire later this month - with a former Grand Slam finalist and a string of Davis Cup stars on show. The Welti Club in Shrewsbury will host an event from the Challenger Circuit, a feeder to the ATP Tour, between November 19 and 25. Amongst the highest profile names to be competing is German Rainer Schuettler who was ranked as high as five in the world two years ago and reached the Australian Open final in 2003, only losing out to Andre Agassi. A cluster of Brits will also be featuring in the main draw, including Alex Bogdanovic, Richard Bloomfield, Martin Lee, Alan Mackin and Jamie Delgado. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
The Welti Club in Shrewsbury will host an event from the Challenger Circuit, a feeder to the ATP Tour, between November 19 and 25.
Amongst the highest profile names to be competing is German Rainer Schuettler who was ranked as high as five in the world two years ago and reached the Australian Open final in 2003, only losing out to Andre Agassi.
Italian Davide Sanguinetti and Georgia's Irakli Labadze - both members of the world's top 50 last year are also making the trip to Shropshire, as is the youngest player in the world's top 200 at the start of the year, Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro.
A cluster of Brits will also be featuring in the main draw, including Alex Bogdanovic, Richard Bloomfield, Martin Lee, Alan Mackin and Jamie Delgado.
"It's a major coup for Shropshire and the Welti Club," said director James Beasley
"It's a quality tournament and the line-up is featuring plenty of world class players.
"It says a lot about just how good the facilities are at Welti and it's something everybody in the county should be proud of.
"The competition at this level is intense with young up-and-coming players fighting for vital ranking points to take them on to the very top level.
"Andy Murray was on the Challenger circuit two years ago so it shows what can happen.
"What is vital now is that the people of Shropshire come out and support the event.
"We will be appraised on the running of the tournament and if it proves a success then there's a good chance we will have something like this again in the future."
The Welti Club has already had a taste of hosting a major international events after staging a British Tour competition at the start of 2006.
Entry to the general public is £5, with groups of six or more gaining free admission providing they book in advance.
