‘Grand’ slam as Vero’s International Open draws top pros

Rasheeda McAdoo PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

It was Game, Set and Match at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club during the week-long Vero Beach International Tennis Open, one of 10 national tournaments.

The United States Tennis Association Women’s Pro Circuit tournament featured more than 100 top female tennis professionals from over 36 countries. The stakes were high as the top-level players competed for the tournament title and a $60,000 prize, and earned points toward their WTA ranking.

Adding to the excitement, Grand Harbor hosted various social events throughout the week, beginning with an Opening Night Ceremony.

Tennis fans were also invited to attend a Fashion Show and Dinner that featured styles for both on and off the court from the Lazy Daisy, the Gazebo and Southern Tide. They were modeled by volunteers from the event’s featured nonprofit, Coastal Connections, whose mission is to “protect coastal habitats for sea turtle survival by educating and connecting people to the environment.”

Mid-week, an Art Show & Wine Social featured 14 Grand Harbor artists and more than 70 works of art, from photography to fine art and sculpture. The show was curated by M.L. Norton, Debbie Lindsey and Molly Mugler.

Next up was the Pro-Am, where advanced and beginner tennis players could play with the pros, and Kids Day, where children participated in a tournament, and learned about how they can participate in Coastal Connections initiatives.

A Porsche Car Show and Dinner Dance closed out the week with cocktails, an Around the World buffet, the music of Riptide, and a special visit from Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl.

Now in its third year, the genesis for the tournament was as a way for Grand Harbor to engage its members while also promoting tennis, said Marco Osorio, Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club director of sports.

As a result of the $60,000 purse, the tournament has grown, attracting a high caliber of professional tennis players. Osorio also noted that 60 amateur players played with the professionals during the event’s Pro-Am.

Osorio acknowledged that they couldn’t have held the event, which drew 4,660 attendees, without the support of sponsors and some 125 volunteers from the club.

“About 1.4 million people from around the world followed the tournament,” said Osorio, referencing that the tournament was live streamed.

The final matches on Sunday saw María Lourdes Carlé (ARG), who is 122nd in the world, win the singles championship, and Allura Zamarripa (USA) and Maribella Zamarripa (USA) win the doubles championship.

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