SCHWIEBERDINGEN, December 17, 2016

Preperations are going forward for the Südwestbank Tennis Grand Prix, which will celebrate its 10th edition in 2017. The $15,000 ITF Pro Circuit event is going to take place from 9 to 15 January at the Tennis King Indoor facilities in Schwieberdingen.

Tournament director David King

“Due to the new prize money changes, we had to look for more sponsors,” tournament director David King told Tennis TourTalk via e-mail.

The ITF Board of Directors approved an extensive programme of prize money increases for the ITF Pro Circuit two years ago. In 2017 prize money levels will rise to between $15,000 and $125,000.

“That is not an easy thing to do when tennis is not the main sport in the area. Only through friendship and business partners can that be done, this year.”

The tournament’s current entry list is led by World No. 263 Marc Sieber of Germany. 20-year-old Kamil Majchrzak from Poland could also appear in Schwieberdingen. The youngster is a player on the rise and captured two ITF Futures titles last season. In-form Czech Petr Michnev will return to Swabia. The man from Ostrava, who lifted five ITF Future trophies in 2016, made it to the semi-finals last year, losing to eventual champion Daniel Masur of Germany in three sets.

Entry list Südwestbank Tennis Grand Prix 2017

“The players, the entry list is just outstanding, the cut at ATP 417 is great for the tournament,” King is pleased with the potential line-up. “I would like to see more German players of course. With 4 wild cards and a few quali entries, we could reach 8 – 11 German players in the tournament.”

Local favourite Yannick Maden, son of co-tournament director Mickey Maden, will probably not compete at his home tournament next year. The 27-year-old will start his 2017 campaign at the ATP 250 Aircel Chennai Open. Maden, ranked World No. 275, qualified for his very first ATP World Tour event in Antwerp last October.