Moorilla signs for three more years

September 20, 2005

     

Moorilla Estate, one of Tasmania’s premium wineries, has renewed its naming rights sponsorship of the State’s premier tennis event, the Hobart International.

The sponsorship will continue for the next three years and will be formerly announced by Tournament Director Michael Roberts at Moorilla Estate in Berriedale today.

The Moorilla Hobart International is a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier IV event and forms part of the "Road to the Australian Open". The event will see 32 of the world’s top female tennis players fighting for US$145,000 in prizemoney at the Domain Tennis Centre from 6 - 13 January 2006.

"Moorilla Estate has been a great supporter of the Hobart International for a number of years and it’s a great boost for the event that Moorilla Estate has decided to extend their naming rights sponsorship of the event for a further three years," Roberts said.

"Its sponsorship of the event will once again allow the tournament committee to put on a first-class international tennis event for the Tasmanian public."

"It is also another vindication that the tournament is on the right track. The 2006 event will see the final being televised for the first time, so that is further added exposure for Moorilla in Tasmania and across Australia."

Played on the Domain Tennis Centre’s five rebound ace courts, the Moorilla Hobart International will attract players from over 15 countries with world rankings inside the top 75. Jie Zheng from China, who won her first WTA Tour title at the 2005 Moorilla Hobart International, will be seeking to become the first player in the event’s 13-year history to defend her title.

    
Zie Zheng of China won her first WTA Tour title in Hobart this year.

In the past, spectators at the Moorilla Hobart International have been fortunate to see some of the world’s best players at the beginning of their careers. The honour roll of past winners includes US Open Champion Kim Clijsters from Belgium (2000) and current Australian No.1 Alicia Molik (2003).

Other notable players that have competed at the Moorilla Hobart International include Grand Slam winners Justine Henin-Hardenne from Belgium, Svetlana Kuznetsova from Russia and Mary Pierce from France.

    
Former Moorilla Hobart International players include Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alicia Molik.

In announcing the sponsorship extension, General Manager of Moorilla Estate, Tim Goddard, said he was looking forward to continuing the local association with Tasmania’s biggest international tennis event.

"Since agreeing to become the naming rights sponsor in 2003 we have been thrilled with just how far the event has progressed and certainly the feedback we receive for supporting one of Tasmania’s major events has been outstanding," Mr. Goddard said.

"We knew at the start of negotiations that for the tournament to continually reach new heights it required a serious sponsorship package and with us contributing double the amount we previously did, it shows that we are right behind the efforts to keep this event here in Hobart for the long-term.

"While the national coverage and international exposure for Moorilla is great, I think it is critical to have an international event in Tasmania for our junior players to look up to and together with the redevelopment of the Domain Tennis Centre, I think the events in the future will be very exciting."

For ticket & further event information, tennis followers are encouraged to contact Tennis Tasmania on 1300 858 836. Preferential tickets for Tennis Tasmania affiliated club members will go on sale from Tuesday 4th October. Tickets for the general public will go on sale from Tuesday 11th October.