KOBLENZ, May 13, 2016
From 15 to 22 January 2017 the Conlog Arena in Koblenz is going to host a €42,500 ATP Challenger. The event will follow the footsteps of the Heilbronn Open, which was also held during the second week of the Australian Open but came to an end in 2014. The Koblenz Open will be the second indoor tournament of the Challenger series on German soil, joining the Bauer Watertechnology Cup in Eckental, which takes place in November. The winner will receive 90 ATP ranking points.
The tournament will be organized by the Sportsbruder agency, which eventually convinced the ATP of the excellent structural conditions in Koblenz.
“The Conlog Arena suits perfect in terms of size and seating capacity,” says Heiko Hampl, the company’s managing director. The arena opened its gates in 1992 and provides up to 5,000 places for the spectators.
“The location of the city is fantastic. Due to the great infrastructure, Koblenz has a catchment area, which includes Frankfurt, Trier and Cologne. The president of the German Tennis Asscociation (DTB) Ulrich Klaus lives close the city and has already agreed to become part of the organising committee.”
Klaus, who has been head of the federation since one and a half year, was taken by the idea of organizing a tournament in Koblenz.
“The region is literally thirsting for a sports event like this,” he explains. “An indoor tournament has its own charme. I am really looking forward to the inaugural edition. I am happy to support the project.”
Hampl also organizes the ATP Challenger in Marburg as well as the $10,000 ITF Future combined event in Ismaning. Those references convinced the mayor of Koblenz, too.
“The city is open for new events. We are pleased that the ATP decided to come to Koblenz. We will actively participate in the organisation,” says Prof. Dr. Hofmann-Göttig, who is a passionate tennis player himself.
It will be the seventh ATP Challenger, which takes place in Germany. This is also important to the local players, providing them a platform to compete at home.
“These kind of tournament are extremely significant in particular to our young players in order to gain their first experiences with an international atmosphere in front of their home crowd,” states Germany’s Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann.
“I am going to fully suppor the tournament and I am convinced that the Koblenz Open will be a success.”
Ticket prices will be between about €10 for a day ticket and about €40 for a week pass.
