2003 March 25 - LTA bully Liverpool tournament

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) are being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading for trying to stop a tennis tournament which clashes with a pre-Wimbledon tournament event in Nottingham.

Under an ATP ruling it is forbidden for any tournament to take place within 100 miles of an ATP event. The tournament distance between Nottingham and Liverpool is actually 106 miles by road, but the LTA say the ruling is 100 miles "as the crow flies".

Anders Borg, the Liverpool tournament director, said:

"Surely the tennis authorities want to promote the sport and what could be better than tennis in a public park in Liverpool."

In 2002 former world #1 and Grand Slam winner Marat Safin highly praised the Liverpool tournament:

"I have enjoyed the tournament very much. Think it is a great way to prepare for Wimbledon. Right - atmosphere - quiet and no stress. It is relaxed and casual but guaranteed matches. A very sympathetic Tournament Director in Anders Borg. Think British Tennis should support an event like this - good for the north. I have enjoyed Liverpool - been out to good places." *

* Marat Safin quote above taken from The Liverpool International tournament website.