Renowned Vancouver Challenger Starts A New Chapter

  • Posted: Jan 26, 2017

Renowned Vancouver Challenger Starts A New Chapter

Jan262017

Odlum Brown VanOpen returns after a one-year hiatus with former player Rik de Voest the new tournament director

A longtime staple of the ATP Challenger Tour has returned to the circuit after a one-year hiatus. With former player and 37-time Challenger doubles winner Rik de Voest at the helm, the Odlum Brown VanOpen is back at the prestigious Hollyburn Country Club.

Nestled on the southern edge of the Coast Mountains in southwestern Canada, with Vancouver Harbour adorning the horizon, the multi-million dollar sports club is a symbol of opulence and for many players on the ATP Challenger Tour it has been a home away from home. The state-of-the-art facility, featuring 25 tennis courts – hard, clay and grass – is rivaled only by the world-class hospitality of its staff.

For 11 years, the Odlum Brown VanOpen was brought to the forefront of the ATP Challenger Tour under the attentive guidance of tournament director Floyd Hill. Following Hill’s departure last year, to pursue other interests, the $100,000 event was in search of a new leader. De Voest is eager to take up the responsibility. Having played his last professional event in Vancouver in 2014, nine years after meeting his wife there, the tournament is close to the South African’s heart.

“I am very excited to form part of the team reviving the Odlum Brown VanOpen,” said De Voest. “I believe bringing world-class tennis back to Vancouver provides great inspiration to the young players who aspire to compete on the ATP World Tour one day. As a past player and having played in many Challenger events, I can honestly say that the Odlum Brown VanOpen was one of the most impressive tournaments in the world. It provides top-class facilities, amazing player accommodation, fantastic crowd support and attracts some of the best players in the world, including future World No. 1s.”

You May Also Like: De Voest Retires "On My Own Terms"

The tournament’s unyielding dedication to providing players with top-notch hospitality and amenities made it such an attractive Challenger destination throughout the years, earning the respect of many players. Dudi Sela enjoyed the most success of any player to step through the doors at Hollyburn, posting a staggering 23-1 record including four titles. The Israeli, who claimed the inaugural edition in 2005 and won again in 2008, 2010 and 2015, is one of just five players to capture four titles at a single tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour.

“Vancouver is my favourite tournament,” Sela told ATPWorldTour.com. “I played five times and won four titles. It’s a really nice tournament. The city is great, the people who run it are really nice and it’s organised really well. Most of the players stay in housing, so we stayed with the tournament doctor. I keep in touch with him and he’s come to Israel to visit. We talk a lot on the phone.

“For sure I’m going to go there again and visit the city and the people. Last year there was an Israeli coach and I felt at home. Every night I was going to dinner in a different house. At most other tournaments you are in hotels but not there.”

Born in nearby Vernon, Canada, Vasek Pospisil won the Vancouver title in 2013 after reaching the semi-finals two years prior. The former World No. 25 has fond memories of his local tournament.

“Vancouver is such a special event in so many ways,” said Pospisil. “It was the nicest Challenger event that I had ever played and the organisers really knew how to take care of the players and the fans. It was also my home tournament and it was the one where I played my first professional match when I was 15, so I have many great memories from the event.”

Operated in conjunction with Tennis Canada, the Odlum Brown VanOpen thrived in its late-summer slot on the ATP Challenger Tour. In 2015, three former Top 10 players – Ernests Gulbis, Radek Stepanek and Jurgen Melzer – competed in the main draw, which was the most at a Challenger event since 2010.

“I have great memories from Vancouver,” said Marcos Baghdatis, who made two trips to Vancouver and left with a perfect 10-0 record, lifting the trophy in both 2009 and 2014. “It’s one of the best Challengers I ever played. I won it twice. Every time I went there and played on the centre court it was packed. It was a nice feeling and the fans are great. I stayed there twice with two different families. They have housing in Vancouver and both of the families were very nice. It is a beautiful city to stay in and experience in my life.”

In years past, the tournament was treated like an ATP World Tour event, providing items such as an exclusive lounge on site, private cars and free housing with local families – luxuries that they intended to reflect the Rogers Cup. De Voest is happy to carry on the tradition of excellence.

“When I first heard about the possibility of the event being brought back, I said I would be happy to assist. I was then approached to be the Tournament Director and was humbled at the request as it is an honour and privilege to manage an event with such a great reputation. I look forward to meeting the challenge and making the 2017 Odlum Brown VanOpen one of the best ever.”

Source link