Mallorca to host WTA grass court event from 2016

Originally published on 10/06/14

The WTA International event will be staged by e|motion management GmbH at a multi-purpose-built facility and will join Birmingham in the second week of the three-week grass court swing. The venue in Mallorca will feature five permanent natural grass courts, which will be constructed and maintained in collaboration with the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Richard Lewis, CEO of the AELTC and Wimbledon, said: "I am delighted to welcome today's announcement of the prospect of a new event in Mallorca and wish to thank the WTA, Palma Council and e|motion for their support of grass court tennis and their considerable efforts in creating an exciting new event for players and fans to enjoy.

“The Aegon Classic in Birmingham is already a successful, well-established and growing event and having a second event in week two will be another important step in achieving our vision of a significantly strengthened grass court season."

From next year the grass court season will be expanded by a week, with WTA International tournaments in Nottingham and ‘s-Hertogenbosch prior to the Premier events in Birmingham and Eastbourne. In 2016 there will be the addition of the 32-player International tournament in Mallorca in the same week as Birmingham.

"With the grass court season set to expand next year, it was important for the WTA to provide players and fans alike with a fresh opportunity to experience the expanded grass court tennis season," said Stacey Allaster, the chairman and CEO of the WTA. "The event in Mallorca will strengthen the grass court season leading up to Wimbledon."

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