Pune, India – The 22nd edition of the NECC Deccan ITF 50K Women’s Tennis Tournament, India’s longest-running and esteemed international tennis event, is set to kick off at the Deccan Gymkhana Tennis Courts from January 20 to 28, 2024. Organized under the auspices of the ITF, AITA, and MSLTA by Deccan Gymkhana and sponsored by the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), the tournament has a rich history of hosting top-notch players.
This iconic event has witnessed past winners who have gone on to become Grand Slam champions, including Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu. Notable players like Bojana Jovanovski, Magda Linette, and Kateryna Bondarenko, who emerged victorious in previous editions, have also achieved top 20 rankings on the WTA tour.
Initiated 23 years ago by Mrs. Anuradha Desai, the event, sponsored by NECC, has played a pivotal role in elevating women’s tennis in India. The tournament has been a consistent platform for women athletes to showcase their talent and compete at an international level.
This year, the tournament has been upgraded to a 50K event with the support and initiative of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the All India Tennis Association (AITA). Last year, the event transitioned from a $25,000 to a $40,000 tournament, making headlines as the only tournament with an all-women organizing and technical squad.
Ashwin Girme, Tennis Secretary at Deccan Gymkhana and Tournament Director, expressed his optimism about the event’s growth. “In the last 22 years, the event has grown from a $5000 event to now a 50K event,” he said. Girme aims to make it a 75K event in the future with the support of MSLTA, AITA, and ITF.
Sunder Iyer, Joint Secretary of AITA and Honorary Secretary of MSLTA, expressed hope that the event will continue to benefit Indian players by providing them with opportunities to earn valuable WTA points.
