 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Oct 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 04 Oct 2006 | | | | |
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| 04 Oct 2006 - Tatiana Abdulkhakova & Valery Lutkov | |
| Summer Surprise for Azerbaijan Tennis Fans |
Azerbaijan is a country with substantial tennis tradition. Segei Likhachev, the best player from the country, was a star of the USSR Davis Cup team for 11 years, with an impressive 26-11 (24-9 in doubles) record in 33 ties. Ramiz Akhmerov has also represented the USSR in Davis Cup. Eugenia Biriukova was one of the best Soviet players in the seventies and used to be a number one Senior in the world. However, the last 15 years were not easy for the country in general and for tennis in particular. Nowadays Azerbaijan is a dynamic country with a growing economy and a desire to progress in all areas.
Therefore it was with great excitement that from the 27th August - 2nd September for the first time the professional women’s tournament, the “BAKU CUP” a $10.000 ITF Women’s Circuit event was organised in Azerbaijan. The tournament was held at the SPORT–TENNIS COMPLEX courts. 37 players from 7 countries took part in the event.
The president of the Azerbaijan Tennis Federation, Mr. Oktay Asadov noted, “The tournament was organised successfully and has the chance to become a regular event. For this we will make all our best efforts, so long as the organization and carrying out of such a tournament is the stimulus for our juniors and is beneficial to the development of tennis in Azerbaijan.”
The tournament director said, “we have had no experience in organising this kind of tennis event, and in spite this all our team: tournament staff, court maintenance staff , officials and volunteers worked efficiently.”
The tournament was supplied with officials staff, headed by an ITF Gold Badge Referee, Valery Lutkov who attended under the budget of the ITF/Tennis Europe Development programme. He was helped by ITF White Badge Officials E. Kondratiev and A. Kozerskiy from Russia, and also group of local officials. In contrast to the Russians, the local officials had no experience in umpiring an international tournament of such level.
In the singles final Yulia Solonitskaya of Russia met Sofia Shapatava of Georgia. Yulia won 6/4, 6/1. Competing in the doubles final was international doubles team, Elina Hasanova (AZE) and Sofia Kvatsabaia (GEO) against the Georgians, Sofia Shapatava and Teona Tsertsvadze . The Georgian team took the title 6/4 6/2 .
There was a trophy ceremony after final matches which was attended by the Minister Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, a speaker from the parliament and the president of the Azerbaijan Tennis Federation, amongst other dignitaries. The winners and finalists of the tournament were presented with trophies whilst
spectators applauded enthusiastically.
In the week prior to the tournament, a Level 1 Officiating Course was organised under umbrella of the ITF/Tennis Europe Development Programme. The Course was conducted by Valery Lutkov from Russia. 11 officials from Azerbaijan successfully completed the programme that included class-room and on-court sessions on Rules of Tennis, Line Umpiring, Chair Umpiring and Code of Conduct. 8 officials went on to umpire matches for the Baku Cup giving them their first taste of international officiating.
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