ITF World Tennis events return this summer in Wellington and Tauranga

Tennis New Zealand has announced two ITF tennis events are back on the calendar in Wellington and Tauranga in December.

The ITF tournaments are expected to attract an international contingent of up-and-coming players in Wellington from December 12th and in Tauranga from December 18th.

The events will also provide New Zealand's emerging professionals with a chance to earn ranking points.

"The last ITF World Tennis Tour professional events in New Zealand were held just prior to lockdown in 2020. They provided a huge boost to our Kiwi players and attracted some top international talent to our shores," Tennis New Zealand chief executive Julie Paterson said.

"It's great to have such a strong international tennis season back in New Zealand across the summer, which includes the ITF World Tennis Tour, ASB Classic and a home Davis Cup tie in February. I know our players are motivated to perform in front of home crowds at this level after such a long period playing overseas.

The ITF World Tennis Tour is part of the professional tennis circuit, with events played in more than 50 countries in 2021.

The tour aims to attract the stars of the future, with the games' biggest names making their start at this level.

The events held in New Zealand in January and February 2020 attracted several athletes now entrenched in the top tier ATP and WTA tours, including the current world number 30, Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who competed at the World Tennis Tour event in Te Anau.

Several New Zealand players also collected their first professional tour wins and ranking points that summer, and it is anticipated around 15 New Zealand players are likely to feature in the main draw of the Wellington and Tauranga events this year through their rankings, or via wildcards. Many more will be involved through the qualifying draw.

ITF World Tennis Tour

ITF Wellington, December 12-18, Renouf Tennis Centre

IFT EVES Open, December 18-24, Tauranga