2022 Te Anau Tennis Invitational ‘probably the strongest field yet’

Greg Sheppard has declared the field at the 10th Te Anau Tennis Invitational probably the best yet.

New Zealand’s leading men’s tennis players will once again gather in the South Lake town of Te Anau on December 28 and 29 for the annual tournament.

Sheppard and other Te Anau Tennis Club volunteers set about organizing the tournament in 2013, which had several benefits.

It has served as a fundraiser for the Te Anau Tennis Club, brought people to the town and introduced top-level tennis to Southerners.

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Sheppard remembers a learning curve in 2013 that involved a bit of a puzzled look when players asked where they could get their bats again.

We hadn’t thought about that, Sheppard said.

We were thrown in the deep end and didn’t know what we were doing.

Planning the 10th tournament, Sheppard said they are now more comfortable in the role of tournament organizers.

The first year was very difficult, I must admit, but it seems to be getting easier and easier.

Sheppard says good old southern hospitality is why many of New Zealand’s top tennis players return to the Distinction Hotels-sponsored event every year.

There is also a $20,000 prize pool. Thanks to a helping hand from Te Anau tennis stable Ian Willans, the prize pool for this year’s 10th tournament has increased to $25,000.

The winner will now withdraw nearly $9,000.

Rubin Statham has won the Te Anau Tennis Invitational six times and will once again headline the 2022 tournament next week.

Those trying to topple Statham this year are; KP Pannu, Isaac Becroft, Finn Reynolds, Connor Heap, Corbyn Crowther, Rob Reynolds and Reece Falck.

I’d say it’s probably our strongest field yet, I’d say… It’s not going to be an easy match for anybody.

Not only has the tournament remained popular among players, but the audience has also continued to grow each year.

All 21 available corporate tables have been sold for next week.

We have had no problems selling them this year.

We treat them like a whitebait rack, sort of. They get first right of refusal, so we don’t undersell someone’s table next year, they get a chance to get them back.

There will also be gate sales on both days and the game will start at 10:30.