October 12, 2009
Fourth Sosúa Open Tennis Tournament
This is the fourth year that Hotel Voramar has organised a three-day tennis competition.
The 'Sosúa Open', as its become known, has increased in popularity each year, both in terms of players and audience.
This year the figures attending were at least double those of last year.
Despite the heat wave, all seats were taken by enthusiastic tennis fans.
Sales of soft drinks, sausage sandwiches and fish/chips were higher than expected.
The tennis players also enjoyed food such as delicious pizza from Restaurant Bologna and spaghetti provided by Restaurant Romanoff.
Any many
Over 60 international players had applied to play in this tournament, including people from Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, Dominican Republic, USA, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the UK.
The junior category included the talented Nick Hardt.
Despite being just nine years old, Nick played in four categories, receiving a trophy in two of these categories - adding to the glory of Hotel Voramar!
Any many of you will know, Nick's father owns Hotel Voramar.
In the category for top players (C1), where Nick played against adults, he lost in the quarter final tie-break to the eventual tournament winner, Manolo.
Another promising youngster, 12-year-old William Kirkmann from Sosúa, showed that he has plenty of talent and played very well against the adults.
Fourth Sosúa Open Tennis Tournament
William later said that he used the tournament to improve his tennis skills.
He doesn't normally get the opportunity to play against such strong opponents.
Both these talented youngsters played in several categories and therefore sometimes played up to six matches per day.
Ladies singles final
Fourth Sosúa Open Tennis Tournament
The last matches of the day were always the most difficult, as fatigue set in, and they lost to an opponent they might otherwise have defeated.
Manolo was wiser, and only played in one category, thus enabling him to win against Fausto.
In the category up to 10 years old, Nick (from Luxemburg) beat Jasper (from the Netherlands) in the finals.
The category up to 14 years was won by William (USA), who beat Nick.
The C2 category for men was won by Hasby (Dominican Republic), who beat Vladimir (Russia).
The doubles were won by Adalberto and Luis.
The ladies singles final was won by William's mother.
5e Sosúa Open
The tournament organisers can look back on a very successful event.
The increased popularity of the Sosúa Open Tennis Tournament means that over 100 competitors are expected next year.
The organising committee, led by Peter Hapke, has already announced that next year's competition will be held over two weekends as the five tennis courts at Voramar will not be able to handle so many games in a single weekend.
Fourth Sosúa Open Tennis Tournament
I love Sosúa
