Racquet Week To Serve Up Island Tennis Legacy
Bermuda Racquet Week will kick off this Friday [Aug 28] with a physically-distanced courtside cocktail event at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium.
A spokesperson said, “Bermuda’s prominent place in the history of tennis is the focal point of Bermuda Racquet Week, which kicks off Friday with a physically-distanced courtside cocktail event at WER Joell Tennis Stadium, Pembroke. The event is also a precursor to the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City where Bermuda returns as the tournament’s exclusive tourism partner.
“Bermuda and tennis in the US have a long history. Mary Ewing Outerbridge, born in Philadelphia to Bermudian parents, first came across the game while visiting her family’s home on the island in 1874. After picking it up, she sailed back to New York with tennis equipment and introduced the sport to Staten Island—a move that earned her the title “the Mother of American Tennis.”
“The Outerbridge story is the nucleus of Friday’s event, called Tennis: The Bermuda Legacy. The intent is to educate visitors and residents about the sport’s Bermudian roots while they enjoy some of the island’s most dynamic players in exhibition matches on Court One. Gosling’s and Bacardi are working together to provide Kim Crawford wines and Grey Goose vodka as featured beverages—brands that are also US Open sponsorship partners.”
“Tennis is a core sport in our sports-tourism strategy and the Mary Ewing Outerbridge connection is a differentiator, a rich storytelling angle to capture the imaginations of tennis fans and invite them to Bermuda,” said Glenn Jones, Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] interim CEO.
“Where most of our visitors come from, tennis outdoors is a seasonal sport. Out here, we play year-round. That’s an advantage we can leverage as tourism marketers. The US Open partnership is a great example of how we use that leverage on a global scale, and now Racquet Week is a local example.”
The BTA added, “Bermuda Racquet Week runs August 28 to September 4 and will include free court time at WER Joell Tennis Stadium for those looking to play. Starting August 31, locals and visitors alike are invited to play on the tennis stadium’s courts between 9 am and 4 pm at no cost. Reservations are recommended. Players are also encouraged to purchase time for tennis lessons with the public facility’s instructors.
“The US Open takes place August 31 to September 13.
“As the national governing body of the sport, the BLTA is proud of Bermuda’s part in the history of tennis and would like to thank the BTA for its recognition of that role in this truly global sport,” said Michael Wolfe, President, Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association [BLTA]. “With the combination of the US Open tournament and Bermuda Racquet Week, tennis is at the forefront of sports and the BLTA would like to encourage persons of all ages and walks of life to head to your nearest court to learn a new sport, renew your skills, or just to have fun playing this wonderful game of tennis.”
“A portion of ticket sales from Friday’s cocktail event will go to the BLTA, a locally registered charity. COVID-19 public-health guidelines will be followed, including physical distancing within the stadium’s seating area and mask-wearing when six feet of distance can’t be achieved. Tickets are available online at Premier Tickets.
“Bermuda Racquet Week is part of the BTA’s inside-out marketing plan, designed to stimulate spending from residents while simultaneously engaging visitors at a time when traveller volume remains low. The promotional week’s name was chosen to invite people to also play other racquet sports, like squash, badminton and pickleball, the last of which is rapidly growing in popularity.”
