Date set for Suva open championship

The fourth Vodafone Suva Open Championship will be held from August 21-24 at the Suva Lawn Tennis Club and Victoria Tennis Courts.

The tournament, launched yesterday at Paradiso Restaurant in Suva, will introduce three new junior grades Under-7, U8 and U10 as part of the Suva Tennis Association’s (STA) grassroots development programme.

STA vice-president Daniel Naidu said the event had grown significantly since its launch in 2023.

“When we launched the Suva Open in 2023, we had 12 events and 91 players,” Naidu said.

“Last year we recorded 163 player entries, an 80 per cent increase in participation in just three years.”

He said the tournament had evolved into a recognised regional event, attracting leading players from Fiji and across the Pacific.

Naidu also thanked Vodafone for supporting the association’s schools programme, which has introduced 50 new players to the sport through free coaching sessions in Suva schools.

Vodafone head of recharge and distribution Nilesh Singh said the company remained committed to developing tennis at both grassroots and elite levels.

“Our partnership with the STA goes beyond financial support. We believe this investment is important for the future of the sport,” Singh said.

He also acknowledged the work of the STA committee and volunteers in delivering the annual tournament.