Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu starred at Liverpool tournament that can create next tennis star
- Tom Murphy
- May 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Merseyside once again will be playing host to the 23rd Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in what is expected to be a huge week for the city.
The event will take place on the 19th June and run until the 21st at the Liverpool Cricket Ground in Aigburth, as it has done since 2014. Players from all over the world will be coming to compete ahead of the run up to the Wimbledon Championships, which begin later in the month.
Previous competitors include the likes of former world number one, Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon Champion, Neal Scupski who was present in Liverpool just last year.
The tournament was first introduced by Northern Vision Sporting Events in 2002 as a warm up event for players before Wimbledon. Since then, Northern Vision has introduced tennis to over 100,000 local juniors through its Liverpool-based events, including the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament and Liverpool Junior International Tennis Tournament.
After last year’s event, organisers at Northern Vision have evolved and become more engaged with the community. As a result of this, organisers are now in a position to give local players wildcards to junior tournaments that can give their career a chance to escalate.
Event organiser Anders Borg, is delighted with the progress Northern Vision has had over the last year regarding community aspects.
He said:
“It is great. It is very important for us. Being the organiser, we are able to give local players wildcards. It is a real community value for us.”
A positive from Northern Vision’s community development involves Liverpool’s very own, Abi Redman, who will be competing at the event this year. The local star is looking forward to being back in the city after victory in November at the Liverpool Tennis Centre.
She said:
“I’m so excited to come back to the Liverpool International this year. It is an event unlike any other I have played in so far in my career.
“The atmosphere is so fun, and I love playing on grass. Growing up locally, my Grandad used to umpire at this event so I used to come and watch, hoping one day I would also play here.”
After a successful period, Redman is now ranked around 600th in the world as she looks ahead to Liverpool Internationals in June. The teenager is coming into the tournament off the back of a third set tiebreak win at the Liverpool Tennis Centre, in which she was selected as a wildcard.
Her victory meant she was offered a full scholarship in America, a great achievement for
her and a showcase of the importance of community value.
Opportunities for Redman first soared when she had the chance to compete internationally in 2022 after she received a wildcard from event organiser Borg, to compete in her first ITF main draw in Liverpool.
On the international experience, Redman said:
“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to travel the world playing tennis. One of the most uncomfortable but important lessons I have learned is that tennis is a brutal sport.
“I’ve learned how vital self-belief is when playing at these high levels. The difference between winning and losing can be a single point, which can be disheartening.”
Redman is also extremely grateful for the opportunity that was handed to her by Borg especially with the unfortunate circumstances that were in front of her.
“Investing in young talent is incredibly important. It’s especially difficult to progress in the North as there are nowhere near as many opportunities as in the South. Having someone like Anders [Borg] to support you with Wild Cards can help with confidence and progress my game to what it is today.”
After progress off the court, this year’s tournament promises to be better than ever and Borg can not wait.
“I am always very excited when the spring and summer comes around, the grass court season has started. We want to bring tennis out of a little bit of a snobbish environment and bring it out to the people.
“This year we are hosting it at the legendary Liverpool Cricket Club, which is one of the oldest sporting grounds in England.
“It is certainly the highlight of our tennis schedule throughout the other organised events in Norway and in Spain. The Liverpool National is definitely my favourite. I have been there for 23 years and saw how the city has evolved over the years- it has become a fantastic place.”
With excitement already building, full focus is on the tournament, starting on the 19th June. Players are set to be announced in the next few weeks during the build up to the event.
Tickets start at just £22 with children able to go for free and VIP access also available.
This story was published on the Liverpool Echo site:
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