Welcome by ATP / WTA
ATP Welcome Letter
Dear Tennis Fans,
Welcome to the 2019 ATP Tour, and to the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
This year’s tournament will once again feature many of the world’s top players competing for a highly coveted ATP Tour title as well as 250 ATP Rankings points on offer to the winner.
We’re fortunate to be witnessing one of the most exciting eras in the history of the sport, with global established superstars at the top of the game, as well as an incredibly exciting group of #NextGenATP players who are making huge strides up the rankings in the early stages of their careers. We hope you enjoy the drama that unfolds on court throughout the week.
The ATP Tour is one of sport’s few truly global sports properties, featuring 64 tournaments in 30 countries across five continents, while the Top 100 players come from approximately 35 different countries. Each tournament on the Tour has its own unique characteristics and the Libema Open has come to play a key role in the overall success of the grass court swing on the ATP Tour.
I would like to thank tournament organisers, led by Tournament Director Marcel Hunze, for their tireless work in making the event the success that it is today.
The Tour is enjoying unprecedented success, with 4.5 million fans attending ATP Tour events last year, and almost 1 billion viewers tuning in on broadcast. The 2019 ATP Tour season culminates at the prestigious season-ending Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London, where only the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season qualify to compete for the last title of the season at the biggest indoor tennis tournament in the world.
We thank you for your support and invite you to follow us all season long at www.ATPTour.com.
Best wishes,
Chris Kermode
ATP Executive Chairman and President
WTA Welcome Letter
Dear Tennis Fans,
I am delighted to welcome you to the Autotron ‘S-Hertogenbosch for the 24th edition of the Libéma Open.
Since the inaugural edition of this WTA International level tournament in 1996, the event has produced many memorable champions in its rich history and is a firm favorite among the players on tour.
The new season is well underway and the Libéma Open provides the perfect opportunity for players to advance on the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, which culminates with our thrilling end-of-season WTA Finals in October.
The WTA Tour is one of sport’s few truly global properties with 55 tournaments being held in 29 countries throughout the 2019 season, in addition to the four Grand Slam events. This year the elite athletes on the WTA will compete once again for championship titles as well as the chance to build a legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
This season marks the 46th year of the Women’s Tennis Association, offering a record $164 million in prize money. The WTA continues to uphold the values of inclusiveness and equality on which it was founded in 1973 and deliver sports fans the very best in women’s tennis across the world.
You, the fans, are at the heart of what we do at the WTA. The support and atmosphere you generate is a huge contributing factor in making the WTA Tour one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world. We are excited to bring you closer to the action than ever before, whether that be watching from the stands, at home on your TV or following on your smartphones.
I’d like to extend a special thank you to all the sponsors, partners, staff and volunteers, whose dedication and commitment to the game make this tournament a world class event. We could not do it without your support.
Enjoy your time here at the 2019 Libéma Open and thank you for being a part of the exciting WTA story.
Ready, play!
Sincerely,
Steve Simon
CEO & Chairman
WTA – Women’s Tennis Association
