Scotland Challenger Tournament to Become ‘Murray Trophy – Glasgow’
LTA – (May 3, 2019) The LTA has confirmed a new title for the Scotland ATP Challenger tournament, the Murray Trophy – Glasgow which will be held at Scotstoun Sports Campus from 16-22 September.
This event is part of the new and expanded international calendar of tournaments being staged by the LTA in Britain this year, providing a showcase for tennis outside of the traditional summer grass court season and opening up the sport to more fans around the country.
As previously announced last month, the LTA is working in partnership with Glasgow Life, and operationally with Tennis Scotland to deliver this event. The LTA has also worked closely with Jamie Murray over the course of several months in developing this event for 2019. The collaboration has meant Murray’s experience on the pro circuit can be combined with the LTA’s expertise in delivering world-class events to ensure the tournament excels in meeting the needs of both the players on court and the fans in the stands.
Jamie Murray was the first player from Britain to rank as No.1 in the world in either singles or doubles in the open era. Spectators will also get the chance to see Murray in action during the week alongside other British and international players as he will compete in the doubles draw.
LTA CEO Scott Lloyd said, “It’s fantastic to be able to bring world class tennis back to Scotland and I’m delighted we are naming this event the Murray Trophy – Glasgow in tribute to the Murray family’s contribution to the game. We want to open tennis up to as many people across the country as we can and I hope events like this will enable tennis champions of the future to experience the thrill of live tennis and get out on a tennis court.”
Jamie Murray, 2015 Davis Cup champion and six-time Grand Slam doubles winner, said: “I’m excited to be working with the LTA and Glasgow Life on this event and honoured to have it named in recognition of my family’s achievements in the sport. I really hope we can use the Murray Trophy – Glasgow to increase awareness of tennis and create opportunities for more boys and girls to play, both in Scotland and Britain as a whole.”
Councillor David McDonald, Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “The Murray Trophy – Glasgow will be integral in encouraging the next generation to get out and get more active. As Scotland’s most famous tennis family, it is wonderful to be able to name this event in the Murrays’ honour. The family has always endeavoured to get more and more young people involved in the sport, and we’re proud to play our part in acknowledging this hard work.”
This event, along with the LTA $25,000 GB-Pro Series in Glasgow earlier this year, aligns with the LTA’s new long-term Performance Strategy, aiding the development of British players by providing more opportunities for them to compete, earn world ranking points and win prize money in this country.
At last year’s ATP Challenger event, hundreds of people from the Glasgow area, from six year olds to 76 year olds, took part in mini tennis and other formats of the game between matches, activity co-ordinated by Tennis Scotland and Glasgow Life. Using elite performances to inspire more fans to try the sport for the first time or start playing again, whether at the Murray Trophy – Glasgow or at the Fed Cup in London just 11 days ago, is all part of the LTA’s work to achieve its ambition of opening tennis up to a wider audience all year round.
Ticket details for the Murray Trophy – Glasgow will go on sale on Thursday 30 May and will be available via the LTA website at www.lta.org.uk.
