Barnstaple tennis tourney gets even bigger

AFTER another successful year for its AEGON Pro-Series women s tennis tournament, Team Tarka in Barnstaple have received the news that the LTA has officially confirmed the new top tier Pro-Series slot for Barnstaple. And with the prize money on offer to

AFTER another successful year for its AEGON Pro-Series women's tennis tournament, Team Tarka in Barnstaple have received the news that the LTA has officially confirmed the new top tier Pro-Series slot for Barnstaple.

And with the prize money on offer to Women's Tennis Association players now lifted to $75,000 this makes the event the equal fourth most prestigious women's tournament in the UK.

The promotion team is now continuing efforts to secure a similar men's event within the next two years.

The LTA said: "The 2009 AEGON Pro-Series event in Barnstaple was a great success, with a strong contingent of British players, including the 2009 Junior US Open winner Heather Watson and her doubles partner Laura Robson. It was excellent to see British player Anna Smith lifting the doubles trophy with her Swedish partner Johanna Larsson.

"The extensive coverage the tournament received was testament to its success and reached out to a whole new audience across the South West of England. Next year's event is set to be bigger and better than ever, with the announcement of the uplift of the event to the $75,000 level. This will attract even higher ranked players, which can only benefit the competition and also the sport in Britain."

The AEGON Pro-Series Barnstaple for 2010 will take place at the Tarka Centre between October 4-10.