The German Tennis Federation has awarded Gerhard Weber (77), the Tournament initiator of the GERRY WEBER OPEN, for his outstanding achievements in German Tennis on Tuesday. "We hereby honour your life-time achievements", DTB-President Ulrich Klaus (Koblenz) said during a press reception at the Tournament. "We thank you for all you have done for all levels of tennis." Gerhard Weber thanked Klaus for the award and in his speech mentioned the developement of the GERRY WEBER OPEN: "There were many who thought we must be mad, to want to establish a tennis tournament here. But we prevailed and got a little better every year. Today we enjoy international respect."
Klaus reminded of the "unbelievable developement" by the initiators of GERRY WEBER OPEN from a 25.000-Dollar-Challenger-tournament to one of the most well-known and much-loved by ATP players and spectators events. "You needed a lot of courage and hard work and you have shown that very impressively", Klaus said. The DTB-Boss also mentioned the outstanding achievements by the family Weber in supporting the youth, mentoring of players and at the tennis club, TC Blau-Weiss, Halle: "I can only bow to you. It's a great honour for me to hand you this award here today." Klaus also thanked the Tournament director of the GERRY WEBER OPEN, Ralf Weber, for his "wonderful work": "You offer a great event for all tennis fans here – from Germany and from the whole of the world."
Tournament director Ralf Weber and spokesman Sascha Detlefsen had invited all accredited press representatives to a lunch reception at the GERRY WEBER OPEN SPORTPARK HOTEL for the first time. "We are glad about the big response that the tournament has in the press. The broad field of players has drawn the most interest by journalists from the printing press, radio, television and social media", Weber said, "450 accreditations at our 26th tournament are a new record."
