Great tennis will come to Poland. A tough declaration of the Minister of Sport
This year, the WTA 250 tournament in Warsaw will not be on the calendar. Sławomir Nitras wants a tennis event to appear on the Vistula River again in the coming years.
This year, Iga Świątek will not have the opportunity to show herself to Polish fans in a WTA tournament. Last year, the leader of the world ranking was unrivaled on Legia's courts. Although thanks to her and Hubert Hurkacz, the popularity of tennis in Poland has increased significantly. Fans miss great performances in their homeland. Therefore, Sławomir Nitras wants to help the return of big events.
The Minister of Sport wants great tennis in Poland
After last year's edition of the tournament in Warsaw, the organizers provided information that no further editions will take place for now. This is influenced by, among others, the upcoming Olympic Games and major business and infrastructure challenges related to organizing the event.
The Minister of Sport and Tourism met with media representatives on Thursday. During the conversation, the topic of the struggles of tennis players in Poland was discussed. According to Nitras, Poland is such a rich country that it should have no problems organizing an event of the WTA 250 rank, and in the long run also the WTA 500 or ATP 500.
– We need to choose a target date, show the ATP and WTA federations the government's determination and serious financial resources, e.g. public banks that treat this project in a 10-year perspective. In terms of infrastructure, we are able to build and adapt courts to the date in which the events will be played in terms of surface. We can talk about the halls, this is supposed to be a flagship project, said Nitras. – 2025 is a realistic date for the return of the WTA 250 tournament to Poland, and I can talk honestly with the tennis community about a wider offer, the construction of target courts, and not modernizing the existing ones – declared the Minister of Sport.
Iga Świątek won the tournament in Warsaw in 2023
The prize pool of last year's Poland Open 2023 was $259,303. Iga Świątek defeated German Laura Siegemund in the final. Heather Watson and Yanina Wickmayer triumphed in the doubles competition.