VANCOUVER, January 23, 2017
Thousands of tennis fans will converge at Hollyburn Country Club in West Vancouver from August 12 to 20, 2017 as the Odlum Brown VanOpen returns after a one-year hiatus. Offering a $200,000 US prize purse, the tournament will see 140 professional men’s and women’s tennis stars from more than 45 countries compete for the title.
“We are very proud of our long-standing relationship with this high-calibre tournament and excited to return as title sponsor,” said Debra Hewson, President and CEO of Odlum Brown Limited.
Johanna Konta (photo: Bo Mon Kwan)
Organizers are thrilled to rekindle the 14-year history of top players in tennis competing in Vancouver, and the tournament will continue to be devoted to producing a best-in-class tennis event for players and fans. Past champions include current world No. 9 Johanna Konta (2013 and 2015), former world No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis (2009 and 2014), five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova (2002), and hometown favourite Vasek Pospisil (2013).
“Tennis BC enthusiastically supports this high-quality professional tournament in Vancouver,” said Mark Roberts, CEO of Tennis BC. “Adding an event of this magnitude gives fans and players the opportunity to experience world-class play in our own backyard.”
“This will help plant the seeds of a culture of excellence and sports entertainment for so many sport lovers, families, tennis fans, next generation junior players and younger children in the community,” said Oded Jacob, Head Coach of Tennis Canada’s National Junior Training Program in BC. “This type of event places the city of Vancouver on the world map of the professional tennis tour and the world’s leading sporting events.”
Rik de Voest, a former professional tennis player and 2006 Odlum Brown VanOpen champion, will serve as Tournament Director.
“I’m thrilled to join the Odlum Brown VanOpen as tournament director and look forward to working with one of the finest sporting events in Canada,” said de Voest. “As a competitor, I know how the tournament and venue provided a world-class experience for players, fans and sponsors, and I look forward to helping bring that back.”
