Women’s tennis W
Le tennis féminin luxembourgeois est actuellement à un très haut niveau. Women’s tennis in Luxembourg is currently at a very high level.
Fortis Championships
Fortis Championships
Du 18 au 26 octobre au CK-Sportcenter de Kockelscheuer. Deux terrains et 2.500 p laces assises. C’est le 13e tournoi WTA (Women’s tennis association) sur les 54 tournois mondiaux licenciés par l’association. Il est entièrement financé par les sponsors, dont la Ville de Luxembourg. Il est organisé par l’International Woman’s tennis promotion Luxembourg. Accès VIP possible (voir sur le site Internet du championnat). Le jeudi 23 octobre à 20h, concert du groupe No Angels (15 euros l’entrée) Prix d’entrée adultes: de 7 à 42 euros, abonnement 9 jours: 75 euros. Prix d’entrée pour les moins de 15 ans: de 0 à 36 euros, abonnement: 9 jours 50 euros. Points de vente: se renseigner auprès du réseau Luxembourg Ticket: Rond-point Schuman, L-2525 Luxembourg, tél. 47 08 95-1, du lundi au vendredi de 10h à 18h30 ou sur www.luxembourg-ticket.lu, e-mail: t icketlu@pt.lu www.fortis-championships.lu
From 18th to 26th October at the CK-Sportcenter in Kockelscheuer. Two courts, 2,500 seats. It is the 13th WTA (Women’s tennis association) tournament out of the 54 tournaments licensed by the association. It is entirely financed by sponsors, notably the City of Luxembourg. It is organised by the International Woman’s tennis promotion Luxembourg. VIP Access possible (see the championships website). Thursday 23rd October 8 pm, a concert by the band No Angels (15 euros) Entrance price for adults: from 7 euros to 42 euros, 9 day season ticket: 75 euros. Entrance price for those less than 15: from 0 euros to 36 euros, 9-day season ticket: 50 euros. Points of sale: information on the Luxembourg Ticket network: Rond-point Schuman, L-2525 Luxembourg, tel. 47 08 95-1, from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6:30 pm or on www.luxembourg-ticket.lu, e-mail: ticketlu@pt.lu www.fortis-championships.lu
ith the approach of the famous international women’s tennis tournament, the Fortis Championships Luxembourg, which take place from the 18th to 26th October at the CK-Sportcenter in Kockelscheuer, the moment has come to look at the women’s game in the Grand-Duchy. Is a new generation of women players assured? How are the Luxembourg players doing in the world rankings? Small country, great champions! The GrandDuchy can be proud of having three players currently ranked among the best in the world. If currently Luxembourg tennis is flourishing, the future seems unsure. At least that’s the view of ex-coach Jos Horsmans, who put the first racket in the hands of Claudine Schaul. Aged 25, Claudine Schaul has been a professional since 2002. Her best world ranking was 41st place in singles in 2004. In this year, she beat, in Strasbourg, the champion (4th in the world) Lindsay Davenport in the final. Anne Kremer, 32, is also among the best. In Grand Slam tournaments, her best performances have come at Wimbledon where she reached the 3rd round in 1999 and 2004. Her best ranking: 18th in the world in 2004. Finally, Mandy Minella, a young player of 23, originally from Esch-sur-Alzette, has climbed the world rankings with unfailing determination. ‘Women’s tennis in Luxembourg is currently at a very high level, says Jos Horsmans, a coach for 17 years in the Steinfort and Arquebusiers clubs in the City of Luxembourg. But no players are currently coming through’. Is Jos Horsmans being pessimistic? Rather demanding, in fact. This tennis lover does not want this success to evaporate and expects ‘more initiatives from clubs in order to attract young players’. The competition with the Internet and other video games is hard to fight against in tennis as in other sports. ‘Tennis is a demanding sport. It needs a lot of investment in time and requires a certain amount of money if the club cannot help on this level. Ideally, it is best to start at 4 or 5 years and benefit from the support of the family’. The excoach, who is still involved in tennis, thinks that clubs also have to make efforts: ‘The Grand-Duchy lacks infrastructures; we seem to be happy with one training session a week. It’s good, but not enough. We also lack good coaches. Some clubs like the TC Spora or those of Howald or Les Arquebusiers work very well. They have 400 or 500 children registered in their tennis schools’. For the moment, the focus is on the Fortis Championships Luxembourg. ‘It is a tournament of exceptional quality, which comes after Wimbledon and Roland-Garros (The French Open). One of the best in Europe. Claudine, Anne and Mandy have always played there. It is an important event in their schedule.’
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