ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Tennis pro’s from around the globe are gathering in Pasco County this weekend for a special tournament.
It’s the second annual Florida Sports Coast Open hosted by the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center.
Last year was the first Florida Sports Coast Open at the SVB Center. SVB’s Chief Executive— Pascal Collard— said he hoped it would lead to bigger things. And this year it has.
The second Florida Sports Coast Open is a $75,000 International Tennis Federation Women’s pro circuit event. Meaning there’s $60,000 in prize money. It’s also where pro tennis player Eugenie Bouchard is starting her comeback.
Bouchard— a former world no. 5-rated singles and past Wimbledon singles finalist— has accepted a wildcard spot in the tourney.
“Super tough competition- everyone is competing for big points, big prize money,” said Bouchard. “We’re at a 75K and there’s really good players here, there’s really top girls. No match is easy, everyone is good. It takes a lot of years and effort and sacrifice and hard work to get to this level and so it’s just fun to have some good competition.”
There are other high-ranked players competing this week, including no. 86-ranked Kayla Day and no. 164 Ann Li. Plenty of names, Collard says, that is sure to draw plenty of spectators.
“The community can come and watch players they’d normally see on tv, now they can come see them live and the entrance is free,” said Collard. “So Saturday and Sunday for the semi-final and final, it’s going to be a free entrance. Come and watch the best players in the world.”
About one hundred players are competing in this year’s Florida Sports Coast Open. With both singles and doubles matches taking place.
The tournament is free to the public to attend and runs thru Sunday.
