Tennis Budapest Grand Prix

The largest tennis event of the year in East-Central Europe, the Budapest Grand Prix international women’s tournament - with prize money of USD 220,000 - takes place this year from April 30 to May 5 in the Hungarian capital.

Due to the timing of the summer Olympic Games and the shorter duration of the 2012 competition calendar, the Budapest event of the WTA (the international women’s tennis association) Tour takes place this year in the spring rather than in the traditional mid-summer slot.

As competition director Jenõ Márky told this Wednesday press conference, the venue of the tournament, the Római Tennis Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The WTA Budapest Grand Prix has taken place annually since 1996 with 269 players from 48 countries appearing in main draw matches.

“This tournament represents Hungarian tennis sports and Hungary, itself,” Jenõ Márky asserted despite the fact that the event does not enjoy much support from the authorities. The tournament director added that his primary aim is still to help the development of young Hungarian players to give them the opportunity to gain international experience at the Budapest Grand Prix.

The tournament, which is also qualification event for the London Olympics, is expected to feature seven Hungarian players altogether. The highest ranked of them is 18-year-old Tímea Babos (66th) who will be in the main draw in Budapest as will her compatriot, 33-year-old Gréta Arn (70th) with a third Hungarian likely to be receiving a wild card for the main draw that is expected to be one of the strongest fields among USD 220,000 WTA tournaments.