The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net CABLE Bahamas is excited to throw its sponsorship behind the hosting of the second Bahamas Open Women's Tennis Tournament set for next month, says Keith Wisdom. "Obviously, this is something special that is happening here," said Wisdom of the world-class tennis tournament scheduled for March 12-17 at the National Tennis Centre. "Cable Bahamas is extremely happy to be a part of this. This is what we also do and that is to serve our community. The community has made this company possible and all of its successes, so we are very happy to be a part of this." Yesterday (Valentine's Day), tournament director Ty Olander, accompanied by his committee members, signed a contract with Cable Bahamas as the major sponsor for the $100,000 tournament that will be highlighted by a Legends exhibition doubles match between Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Joe Fernandez. Olander said that Cable Bahamas' involvement will definitely enable the tournament to get the national coverage that will enhance the performances of the players on the court during the week-long competition. Wisdom said with so many negative components in the country right now, the tournament will be a breath of fresh air for the Bahamas and that is one of the reasons why they decided to come on board. "All of our employees, we as a company, are happy to be a part of this Bahamas Open," Wisdom said. "The idea of meeting some of the names that will be here will be very exciting." Although they have signed on as a major sponsor, Wisdom encouraged other corporate sponsors to join them in making sure that the tournament is a success. The Bahamas Olympic Committee has endorsed their support of the tournament. As president Wellington Miller sees it, sports is an avenue to help promote tourism in the Bahamas which will be done through the hosting of the tournament. While he noted that sports helped to free Nelson Mandela from jail, it has also helped a number of Bahamians to excel all the way to the House of Assembly. "We thank the promoter for coming forth with this vision. We thank the sponsor Cable Bahamas for buying into this vision. It all goes well for sport in the Bahamas, but tennis in particular," Miller said. Olander said from the initial staging of the tournament to last year, he has had a dedicated group of committee members who are working tirelessly to ensure that the second tournament is successful. "What surprises me this year is even though we have the legends coming for the historic doubles match, we have had requests from all over the world," he said. "We've had the Chinese delegation requesting a letter to get their visas, we've had all of the major European block countries that have contacted us. The hotels have been fulling up. This is just something that has blossomed into something huge." Alistair Williams, who represents the International Tennis Federation, has informed Olander that there are more top players signed up to participate than they have had for any other tournament. "Everybody wants to come here to the Bahamas," Olander said. "Last year when we had the first tournament, only one player was in the top 25. "Following the Bahamas Open at the end of the year, nine of the players that were here in the Bahamas were in the top 25. So the players feel that this is a good omen for their careers. Their rankings increases. That is why everybody wants to come to the Bahamas." This year's tournament will positively impact the Bahamas' economy tremendously but Olander pointed out that, based on the outcome, the Bahamas Open will become a permanent spot on the ITF's tour. "That is huge," Olander said. "We can only see thousands of tourists coming here every year." And while the women's legends will highlight this year's tournament, Olander said it's their hope to have a men's segment incorporated where players like Andre Agassi and some of the other legends will also come down and put on exhibitions on the opening days.