Event founder and director Anders Borg talks about the most memorable moments from 23 years of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament.
A New Home in Liverpool
I used to work as a currency options trader in London. It was exciting, but I knew I needed something else. That’s when we considered setting up a tennis exhibition event before Wimbledon.
Back then, there were barely any warm-up events before the big tournament, and we wanted to bring tennis to the public. But not in an expensive, members-only club. We wanted it in a park where people could see world-class players up close without the exclusivity.
We narrowed it down to Hampstead Heath in London, close to where I lived, and Calderstones Park in Liverpool. I knew Calderstones was perfect the moment I set foot in the place. My friends thought I was mad. “Anders, are you crazy? What are you doing?” But I saw potential. Tennis wasn’t a big sport in the region. I believed we could change that.
The Early Years
We had to aim high to make an impact. So, that first year, we signed up Marat Safin, the world number one, and Goran Ivanišević, who won Wimbledon the previous year. They were superstars, and they didn’t come cheap. Financially, it wasn’t pretty, but we made our mark. The city council saw the potential and supported us in the following years.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Calderstones Park was a beautiful venue but wasn’t built for tennis. The court was on a slope, which wasn’t ideal. Securing the space and setting everything up was madness, too. Eventually, in 2013 or 2014, I visited Liverpool Cricket Club and immediately saw it was a better fit. That’s when we moved the event there.
The Highlights
When I look back, there are so many highlights. John McEnroe playing a thrilling final against Michael Pernfors in front of a packed crowd. Seeing legends like Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, and Martina Hingis take to the court.
Then there’s the satisfaction of watching players who competed in Liverpool go on to win Grand Slams. Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Emma Raducanu. We also helped nurture local talent, like the Skupski brothers, who started playing with us as teenagers. Neil Skupski later became the world’s top-ranked doubles player, which was a massive moment for him, us, and the city.
The Challenges
Of course, it hasn’t all been easy. When the financial crisis hit, council funding dried up, and things became more challenging. But the local business community stepped in, recognising the value of what we were doing. We’re not as big as football in this city. Still, I’d like to think our event has had a significant economic impact, bringing in visitors and boosting the local economy.
The dream has always been to host an official ATP or WTA event, but that’s far-fetched. We’d need a stadium for at least 10,000 spectators and several top-tier grass courts to meet their requirements. Liverpool Cricket Club is a fantastic venue, but it doesn’t have the infrastructure for that kind of event. Still, we continue to grow, especially with our junior tournaments, and every year we try to make the exhibition even bigger and better.
The Day Bjorn Borg Called
One of the strangest moments in the tournament’s history came in 2007. We had managed to sign up Bjorn Borg to play his first grass court match since his famous loss to McEnroe in the Wimbledon final. It was a huge deal.
Everything was set – tickets sold, centre court packed, excitement in the air. Then, I got a phone call. It was Bjorn.
“Anders, I’ve got good news and bad news,” he said.
I knew that something was wrong immediately. “Go on, give me the bad news.”
“I can’t play,” he said. My heart nearly stopped.
“What? Why?”
“A German Shepherd named Wolf bit me.”
There I was, standing on centre court, trying to process this. “Okay… what’s the good news?”
“My dog saved me. He’s still alive.”
Well, that was great news for the dog. Not so much for me, with hundreds of people expecting to see Bjorn Borg play.
To his credit, he still turned up, met the fans, and handled it brilliantly. But the funniest part? The news spread, and somewhere along the way, it got twisted. Pat Cash was commentating on the French Open final when he saw the story. He reported – live on air – that a wolf had bitten Bjorn Borg. A real wolf!
Media-wise, it actually worked in our favour. You couldn’t make it up.
No Regrets
I sometimes wonder how things would have turned out if we’d chosen Hampstead Heath. The tennis community is bigger in London, and the financial side of things would have been easier. But I don’t regret it for a second.
Liverpool is a fantastic city. How it has evolved over the years has been incredible: the infrastructure, the port, the universities, and the culture. It’s still underrated. I’ve never understood why businesses flock to Manchester when Liverpool offers so much.
The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament has never been solely about the sport. It’s about bringing something special to a city that deserves it. It’s about inspiring young players, giving people access to world-class tennis, and proving that you don’t need to be in London to host a great event.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
