This is the main change experienced by one of the two ITF tournaments in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, one of the four still played on outdoor clay courts among the nine in France. An event that continues to evolve. Thus, the financial allocation distributed among the players of this “W35” is 30,000 dollars this year, before arriving, ultimately, at 35,000, in order to align with the men’s tournaments, according to the wishes of the ITF (Federation international tennis court).
A show always free
Also, for the first time, the matches, filmed on the four courts, will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime. Good for those who have a subscription. For others, coming to the edge of the grounds remains free…
Philippe Veersé is now the tournament director. Rémi Philippon
And there will still be lots of people to see. As in 2021, when Diane Parry beat Elsa Jacquemot in the final… The only two French women to have passed the first round at Roland-Garros this year, where Mirra Andreeva, semi-finalist in Périgueux in 2022, triumphed. In 2020, Argentina’s Nadia Podorska reached the semi-finals in Paris, two years after her victory in Périgord. Having fallen to 921st place in the world due to injuries, she was expected to participate in the qualifications this year in Dordogne. But, since Monday evening, it seems less certain…
The title holder will be there
In any case, Vivian Wolff, title holder, is set to be the number one seed in the final draw. Since last year, the American has gone from 418th to 249th place in the world. Knowing that this year, apart from the eight players from qualifications and the six invitations (including one issued by the CAP, undoubtedly to Polina Leykina, player from her National 2 team), it will certainly be necessary to be in the top 500 in the world to appear in the final table of 32 players, starting Tuesday. And again, the French Mathilde Lollia, 489th and semi-finalist last year against Wolff, was out at the start of the week!
Which illustrates the high level of this 29th edition, with a record 17 nationalities represented, compared to 14 last year. A melting pot to be managed well from this Sunday, the date of the start of qualifying, for the northern referee Yan Kuszak, his team of referees and not far from around forty volunteers, on deck for eight days. With an important and now almost usual element to tame: the heatwave predicted in Dordogne until the end of the month. “Normally, matches can start from 9 a.m.,” indicates Philippe Veersé. The referee will then see, depending on the conditions, whether it is necessary to adapt further.
The complete tournament program
The sporting process
Sunday June 21 and Monday June 22: three qualifying rounds (from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., then at 8 p.m., during the municipal decree). Tuesday June 23 and Wednesday June 24: first rounds in singles and doubles. Thursday June 25: 8th final in singles, quarter-final in doubles. Friday June 26: quarter-finals in singles, semi-finals in doubles. Saturday June 27: singles semi-finals, doubles final. Sunday June 28: singles final (at 3 p.m., time subject to change depending on the weather).
Entertainment
Monday June 22: official inauguration of the tournament at CAP tennis around 6:30 p.m., in the presence of partners and players. Wednesday June 24: youth and partners day (activities for children, “Celebrate the wall” and “It’s a ball” actions, introduction to padel for partners, grill party in the evening). Thursday June 24: from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., educational workshop “I learn about energy” with schoolchildren. Friday June 26: partners’ lunch at noon. Saturday June 27: “Forward the girls”, morning dedicated to the promotion of women’s tennis among young people, with the presence of players under 10 years old for small tournaments.
