Canberra ATP Challenger Wants Hometown Hero Nick Kyrgios To Headline Event

Tennis ACT "will need corporate support for the Canberra ATP Challenger to survive beyond this year," according to Lee Gaskin of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It is the biggest tournament to be held in Canberra since the "demise of the former WTA event," the Canberra Int'l, in '06 and puts the capital "on the tennis map a week before the Australian Open." Tennis is "booming" in Canberra on Nick Kyrgios' rise to int'l fame and Tennis ACT is "keen to investigate ways to bring more big matches and tournaments to the city." These include "looking at options to include a showcourt as part of plans for the new convention centre in Civic to have an indoor venue in the middle of Canberra." Having Kyrgios playing a tournament in his hometown would be the "ultimate drawcard for Tennis ACT." Canberra "would need to upgrade from a Challenger event to at least an ATP 250 calibre tournament to attract a player of Kyrgios' quality" (SMH, 1/10).