Tennis, to Wimbledon via the Po: the only grass tournament in Italy returns

To make the dream come true, Wimbledon gardeners were called in to refine grass care techniques

VENICE – It was a disused football field in a small municipality in the lower Polesine area, in Veneto (970 inhabitants). Today it is one of the eight international tennis tournaments on natural grass on the WTA circuit, the only one in Italy; it is a key event for players in view of the tennis tournament par excellence, Wimbledon.

From next Sunday, the ‘Veneto Open’ returns for the third edition in Gaiba (Rovigo), a WTA 125 class tournament which will see seven of the top 100 tennis players in the world compete from 16 to 23 June. There will be over 50 tennis players from over 15 countries. The tournament, organized by the Gaiba Tennis Club, has a prize pool of $115,000 and for the first time will open to qualifying, with a single round, scheduled for Sunday, for the last four places in the main draw .

Among the players, there will be the German Tatjana Maria, number 65 in the world, the American Bernarda Pera, the Argentine Maria Lourdes Carle >, the Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova, the Spanish Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova and the Argentine Julia Riera >. Also noteworthy is the return to Gaiba of the Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck, winner of the first edition in 2022, and the presence in the entry list of some very talented young people including the Swiss Celine Naef strong> and the Filipina Alexandra Eala. Instead, Lucrezia Stefanini will carry the colors of Italy.

Entrance to the Club and secondary courts will be free, while a ticket is required for the main court. Numerous collateral activities are also planned during the week. New to this edition of the tournament is the Veneto Region Award for the best emerging tennis player, in addition to the involvement of eight creators who in those days will tell what happens on the courts, and the beauties and local opportunities. The Veneto Open promoted by the Veneto Region was just a dream over a decade ago. It was 2022 when the tournament made its debut as an event on the WTA circuit, but its history dates back to 2012, when a group of young people from the municipality of Lower Polesine decided to transform a disused football field into four tennis courts in natural grass, of course. Unicum in Italy where there are few natural grass fields (mostly private and never more than one per reality). To make the dream come true, the Wimbledon gardeners were called in to refine the grass care techniques (today it is cut daily to eight millimetres, as required by the British rule). The structures and people involved have also grown. Today the location extends over an area of 20,000 square meters located on the left bank of the Po river and has six natural grass fields. In 2022 the WTA president, Steve Simon, underlined the goodness of what has been done with a letter of praise. And the club remains a symbol of the sporting dream of a community of enthusiasts, many of whom are the same ones who began the adventure in 2012.

“Thanks to the organizers, this event is an example of the meaning of ‘throwing your heart over the obstacle'”, said Luca Zaia, president of Veneto at the presentation press conference. “A sporting event that competes with Wimbledon has been invented. The idea of daring must be rewarded. I once again thank the organizers and the territory that supports this tournament, these efforts are the nursery from which the great champions of tomorrow will be born”. The Region has included the Veneto Open among the major events in the area. “His story demonstrates how passion and determination can transform a local dream into a solid reality of great international prestige,” he added.