The Pekao Szczecin Open 2013

The next edition of the Pekao Szczecin Open 2013 taken place on 16-22 September. The tournament’s total player purse is $150,000, which is divided into $125,000 in prize money and $25,000 for hospitality – free accommodation and food. The tournament has been organised since 1993. Initially, it was a satellite tournament with prize money of $25,000, and then from 1996 a challenge tournament. The main tournament has 32 players in competition, including 4 wild-card holders, and another 32 in qualifiers fighting for 4 places in the main tournament. The doubles section features 16 pairs. For many years the tournament has been seen as at an excellent level – it has been compared with ATP events. In 2002 it received the prestigious Challenger Award for world’s best men’s challenge.

The event’s participants have included such names as Nikolay Davydenko, Nicolas Massu, Juan Ignacio Chela (all winning in Szczecin), David Ferrera, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, and Mikhail Youzhny. Roland Garros champions – Juan Carlos Ferrero, Gaston Gaudio, Sergi Bruguera, and Alex Corretja have also visited Szczecin. Last year the winner was the famous Romanian player Victor Hanescu.

Among the many attractions accompanying the professional competition there is the Artistes’ Tournament, which is the most important tournament for actors, musicians and comedians in this country. Participants so far have included such celebrities as Mika Urbaniak, Michał Milowicz, Karol Strasburger, Tomasz Stockinger, Piotr Gąsowski, Piotr Cyrwus, Przemysław Sadowski, and Robert Janowski. Other events have included the Pioneer Kids’ Open – children and young people playing against the main tournament players; school competitions, and tournaments for children with disabilities, as well as a VIP tournament for sponsors, Local-Government officials, artistes, athletes and politicians played in random pairs.

This year’s Pekao Szczecin Open will be visited by one of the world’s leading tennis players, Jerzy Janowicz. This competition in Szczecin is to be rather different from the previous ones. The decorations and layout will change. On entering, to the left you will find the festival tent, which will feature concerts every night, but the stage will be moved. Courts 1 and 2 will feature brand-new grandstands to accommodate more spectators. The stands around the central court will also be modernised.

More information on www.pekaoszczecinopen.pl/2013/