Entry to the CHA London Open is closed after reaching capacity in a record-breaking four hours and five minutes. After launching at 17:00GMT, all 80 spots were filled by 21:05.
This marks the tournament as one of the fastest to be filled in racketlon history.
51 of the 80 spots have been taken by British players at their home tournament. The other 29 players competing are from eight racketlon nations around the world.
Three players are from Hong Kong, who continue to grow as a racketlon force. Elsewhere there are players travelling from France, Poland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
The tournament is to be played at The Roehampton Club, one of the most prestigious sports clubs in the UK, on the 16th-18th of August. The tournament boasts a rare opportunity to play grass court tennis, with the immaculate courts having been played on by the likes of Andy Murray, Lleyton Hewitt, Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic in the past.
“I’ve never known anything like this”
London Open Tournament Director Duncan Stahl said, “In 10 years of racketlon, as a player and organiser I’ve never known anything like this!
“International tournaments normally fill up over several months. This tournament has just filled up to capacity in four hours.
“Huge credit should go to the GB Racketlon Board who are building a real racketlon movement in the UK where there is now unprecedented demand for the sport.
“And many thanks to all those who got their entries in this evening. It now allows me eight months to fully plan what should be a very special Tournament.”
While nobody expected the tournament to fill this quickly, it was anticipated that the tournament would sell out faster than most. Popularity for the sport is experiencing a boom in the United Kingdom, with their last two domestic tournaments selling out in three days and 17 hours.
Who is playing at the London Open?
An all-star venue deserves an all-star cast and that will certainly be on display when the tournament begins in August.
World No.2 and No.3 Morten Jaksland and Kresten Hougaard are both playing alongside Men’s World Championship bronze medalist and U21 World Champion Leon Griffiths.
Three more top-10 players are competing in the men’s draw; Dan Busby, Benjamin Graenicher and Duncan Stahl, while rising star Arnaud Genin is also entered.
The Women’s event is loaded with talent with all four competitors currently sitting in the top-10 in the world.
Experienced pair Kirsten Kaptein and Amke Fischer are both in action in London. Alongside them are youngsters Hannah Boden and Zuzana Severinova, who most recently met in last year’s U21 World Championship final.
To be added to the London Open reserve list please email tournament director Duncan Stahl at: duncan@dwsevents.com
You can enter one of our other World Tour tournaments here.
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Sam Barker / FIR Media Officer
