Chennai Open WTA 250 International Women’s Tennis Championship 2022

• 'CHENNAI OPEN WTA 250 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2022' from 12th to 18th September 2022 at SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

The Tennis buzz is now happening in Chennai.  After a lull in activity for five years which included the world wide Covid pandemic which affected the whole world for almost two years, when sports and sportspersons in general and tennis and tennis players in general were strongly affected, Tennis is being revived in a strong manner in Tamil Nadu.    

(From the left)- Mr.Hiten Joshi, Thiru Premkumar Karra, Selvi Apoorva I.A.S, Dr.K.P.Karthikeyan I.A.S & Mr.Venkat

In his opening remarks, Vijay Amritraj, the well-known Indian sports legend, recently lauded with the Golden Achievement Award by ITF and International Hall Of Fame in London for his outstanding impact on the sport of Tennis as a player, promoter, and humanitarian and now President Tamil Nadu Tennis Association said, “There is no doubt as to the impact that the ATP event had on Tennis in the State and the Country. Not only the best in the world came to Chennai but our own players Leandar, Mahesh, Somdev and Ramkumar used the home opportunity to the maximum to move onto the top world stage.  I became the TNTA President in 2018 and the mandate of the Association as well as my personal mandate was to revive a major event in Chennai , my home town so that it inspires everyone – the players the administrators, the coaches, the younger generation - to play Tennis,  promote and constantly improve the game in the State and ensure not only the dominance of Tamil Nadu in the game of Tennis for both Men and Women, but also see the State of Tamil Nadu as an international destination for Tourism, Investment and Industry and Chennai as a major international city.

The Covid Pandemic did affect the process, but with sheer persistence and perseverance and strong, initiative, support  and blessings of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Thiru M.K.Stalin who is a keen sports lover himself and his sports friendly Government, I am proud to announce the conduct of the first ever CHENNAI OPEN  WTA 250 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 from 12th to 18th September 2022 at the well-constructed SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, Chennai. I must acknowledge the efforts of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and APG Consulting in allotting the event to Chennai. A WTA 250 event is returning to India for the first time since 2008 and the privilege of hosting it is now with Chennai. The players expected to participate in the event would be amongst the top 100 in the world. 

The fact that the Government of Tamil Nadu is strongly supporting the conduct of the Chess Olympiad in Chennai and promoting the idea of a mega sport city shows the strong commitment it has towards Sport and encourage the youth of Tamil Nadu to take upto it and succeed in it.   We are greatly indebted to the support, dynamism and enthusiasm of the Hon’ble Chief Minster, Government and the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports Development, represented here by the Honourable Minister, Madam Secretary and the Member Secretary.   

The stadium without doubt is a world class one and I am confident that the Government, the Department and the SDAT will ensure that it is equipped with the world class facilities of the latest technology which is very essential for the successful conduct of the tournament.  I am sure the sports and tennis loving public of Chennai will turn up to witness the matches in great numbers and enjoy the wonderful experience. 

Women’s Tennis will also be promoted in the State on the same level as that of Men’s Tennis. The conduct of such an International Women’s event will fulfil a longstanding need of promoting Women’s Tennis and will encourage more girls in the State to play the great sport of Tennis which will immensely help them in both, education and life. 

On behalf of TNTA, whose history is well known, I would like to assure each of you that we are putting our best foot forward to ensure a great event for the players, for the sponsors, for the public, and for the game. To the press I say a special thank you for support to the game of Tennis for many many years and request your continued support for this mega event.”

While delivering the vote of thanks to the Press, Premkumar Karra, Honorary Secretary, reiterated that TNTA will leave no stone unturned for making this prestigious mega event a memorable one for everyone involved. He thanked the Government, SDAT for the constant co-operation and support over the years which enabled it bring to Chennai the most prestigious of Tournaments. 

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