Boost for women’s tennis

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 39

Boost for women’s tennis

PA Wellington The largest prize money in New Zealand women’s sport will be on offer at the 1989 Nutri-Metics international women’s tennis open, as a result of a big sponsorship of the singles event. The tournament director, Mr Neil Purdon, announced yesterday that Foodtown Supermarkets Limited was joining the event as the sponsor of the singles. He said ■ Foodtown’s involvement, in addition to that of Drake Personnel, the sponsor of the doubles, had lifted the total prize money for the tournament — to be played at the A.S.B. Tennis Centre from January 30 to February 5 — to a record $U575,000 ($117,187). The winner of the Foodtown singles would carry off a cheque for SUSI2,OOO ($18,750) — the biggest winner’s stake in the history of women’s sport in New Zealand. “We are delighted that a group with such a strong identity in the market-

place as Foodtown has decided to become involved with women’s tennis, and it is appropriate they have chosen the Nu-tri-Metics tournament, the premier women’s event of the year,” Mr Purdon said.

The Foodtown singles will have a 32-strong draw and Mr Purdon is confident it will attract a truly international field. Total prize money for the tournament is up $U525,000 ($39,062) on last year.

New Zealand’s top pair of Julie Richardson and Belinda Cordwell are delighted that prize money for the tournament has been boosted to $U575,000. The pair head off to Australia next week to prepare for this year’s Federation Cup event next month, during which time they will also be “shopping” for players for the two tournaments here this summer — the Nutri-Met-ics and the Fernleaf Classic which follows in Wellington.