Well, we have quite the option for you! The 2nd edition of the "Challenger National Bank de Gatineau" will be held very shortly, from July 25 through August 2nd at the Parc de l'Île in Gatineau. This professional and international womens' event is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation and regroups some of the game's rising stars from all over the world, as well as Canada's most elite players. All of them are competing for the total prize money of $25,000. Last year, future WTA star Françoise Abanda from Montreal made it all the way to the singles final in front of passionate fans, where she battled a WTA top 175 ranked player from France.
Kids and adults are invited to join in on the fun and festivities all week! The site will be vibrant with energy, with a restaurant, terrace, music and special events happening all week long. Qualifying rounds are free for everyone and ticket prices range from $10 up to $20 per day depending on the round (with additional rebates for kids!). All proceeds will be invested in youth tennis promotion and program development.
You can find more info on the tournament schedule and tickets by accessing the following links:
http://www.challengerbanquenationale.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/programmation-finale_en1.pdfhttp://www.challengerbanquenationale.com/gatineau/achat/
All of this in our very own backyard (close to the Casino and less than 5 minutes away from downtown Ottawa)! Eugène Lapierre, vice-president of professional tennis in Québec and director of the Rogers Cup, explained, "The National Bank Challenger events are the first level of competition on the professional tour. Players can gain valuable points and climb in the rankings to enter major tournaments. Until National Bank pledged its support, there were too few of these events held in Canada. Our players had no choice but to travel abroad for weeks on end to earn points."