 Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 20 Mar 2008 |
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| 20 Mar 2008 - Helen McFetridge | |
| Copa Gerdau celebrates 25th anniversary |
The Copa Gerdau, South America’s Grade A tournament, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Tennis dignitaries including Jorge Lacerda, President of the Confederaçao Brasileira de Tenis, Sergio Elias, President of COSAT, and Luca Santilli, ITF Manager of Juniors & Seniors Tennis, attended a special ceremony earlier this week to mark the occasion. Also in attendance were former top Brazilian players; representatives from the city authorities; and all local sponsors including the title sponsors Gerdau Steel Manufacturers.
Fireworks, cake and the singing of the Brazilian national anthem all contributed to the festivities, during which Luca Santilli presented commemorative plaques to the Copa Gerdau tournament director Ennio Moreira and to Jorge Lacerda of the CBT as thanks for their commitment to top level junior tennis over the years.
After the on-court celebrations, a cocktail party was held featuring videos of past winners of the Gerdau Cup including Gustavo Kuerten and Fernando Gonzalez along with former participants such as Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic. An official dinner rounded off the day.
The Copa Gerdau took over as South America’s Grade A last year. Prior to that the role was filled by the Banana Bowl, which also has an illustrious history having been in existence for 38 years.
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