This year, tennis fans from the Saanen region will give undivided attention to the gentlemen on the clay court. Among the top players are a number who’ve already been seen in action in previous years on the Gstaad Center Court. Innovations to the structure of the tournament’s programme promise a great week of tennis for all spectators.
 
Well-known names
Will last year’s finals be repeated? This might very well happen, as both last year’s tournament winner Matteo Berrettini (ATP 22) and his previous opponent in the finals, Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP 20), will join the top players at this year’s J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad.

Berrettini, just 22 years old, is highly motivated to play in the Gstaad tournament. At the ATP tournament in Stuttgart, he won on grass in two final sets. At the French Open, he met the Spaniard Pablo Andujar (ATP 82), who won the Gstaad tournament in 2014 and will be there again this year. The young Italian beat him in four sets.

With old hands Fernando Verdasco (ATP 34) and Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ATP 101), the Spaniards are in a good position in Gstaad. Their compatriot Jaume Munar (ATP 88) moved into the quarter-finals in Marrakech and also made life difficult for the Croatian, Borna Coric, in the Monte-Carlo tournament.

New names
Among those taking part are undoubtedly the stars of tomorrow. The only 20-year-old, Frenchman Corentin Moutet (ATP 102), attracted attention when he fought his way into the third round at the Grandslam tournament in Paris.
An attractive programme

On the first day of the tournament, Saturday 20 July, a silent party will once more take place in the tournament village. For anyone who doesn’t remember, every visitor gets a set of headphones and can choose their own party music without disturbing the neighbourhood. It’s also the staff party for all who contribute to the tournament’s success. Of course, all other visitors are welcome too.

The Family Day is another well-known event, taking place on a Tuesday in the tournament week. This year, it will be on 23 July and is organised in collaboration with the Association of Swiss Tennis. Families can buy a comprehensive fixed-price ticket. In addition to the matches taking place on the courts, exciting games, competitions and autograph signing sessions will be part of the action.

Ladies Day on Wednesday
A new highlight to the programme is Ladies Day. On Wednesday 24 July, the ladies will take to the stands and be among the visitors benefitting from the new programme. At the end, a surprise awaits: The day will round off with a musical finale in the tennis village.

The second innovation to the tournament programme also promises to be exciting and entertaining. Starting from the Monday of the tournament week, players or other personalities from the tennis world will be interviewed daily in the Tennis Village. The commentators’ two voices are hopefully well known to the long-standing tournament visitors. Official presenters Davis Lemos and Christoph Bussard will ask all the right questions to get interesting comments and information from their interviewees.

Based on AvS/Jenny Sterchi
Translated by Justine Hewson