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The second “Bad Homburg Open” will start in the spa town on Saturday (June 18). Visitors can look forward to top tennis and a large supporting program.
Bad Homburg – The anticipation is certainly not only huge for tennis star Angelique Kerber. One year after the successful premiere of the “Bad Homburg Open”, the best tennis players in the world will once again be playing in the Kurpark from Saturday (June 18). For a week, between June 18th and 25th, the Wimbledon preparatory tournament on the grounds of the Bad Homburg Tennis Club (TC) promises world-class women’s tennis. In contrast to the “test run” a year ago, when only a limited number of spectators were allowed to sit in the stands due to the pandemic, this time the game will be played under “full load”. “We are really looking forward to top tennis in front of a full audience,” says Mayor Alexander Hetjes (CDU).
Because despite all the restrictions, the first edition made “you want more”, says the mayor and refers to the “invaluable advertising value” of the tournament. Visitors would come to the spa town from far and wide or follow the tournament on television. Numerous city marketing and city management campaigns await those who stop by. So in the coming days in Bad Homburg “everything will revolve around the yellow ball,” says Hetjes and promises: “We will offer a very extensive entertainment program.”
Bad Homburg Open 2022: Ice cream flavors specially created for the tennis tournament
This starts on Saturday on a large open-air stage on the Kurhaus forecourt. Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. there will be a small opening ceremony with a colorful program of street art, street food stands and other highlights under the motto “Aufschlag Bad Homburg”. Right at the beginning, “Clownesse” shows that you can also wander through life on stilts happily and elatedly; further on the program includes a football show, juggling or soap bubbles with clown Corina. There are also culinary specialties, such as hot dogs with a Hessian interpretation, creative types of popcorn and three ice cream creations from the Gelato Bella ice cream parlor specially designed for the tournament.
Open to the public at 1 p.m. And that literally. After the welcome by tournament director Dr. Aljoscha Thron, spa director Holger Reuter and a top player, Hetjes will challenge the athlete to a small show match on a mini tennis court specially set up in front of the spa. But who that will be will not be revealed yet, says Hetjes, who is sure to have a fan on the sidelines: City mascot Hazel is there as a cheerleader and will also be giving a small autograph session on Saturday right before the official opening. The fluffy popular figure is something like the secret star of the “Bad Homburg Open” anyway and will have a few appearances on the tournament grounds and in the city center again during the week.
The latter should be pimped up properly in the coming days. For example, decorative items – such as posters, partition walls or ceiling hangers – are currently being distributed to more than 300 shops and restaurateurs on Louisenstrasse and its side streets up to the old town, says city manager Tatjana Baric. “We want to carry the flair and aura of the tennis tournament downtown.” The city is based on the “big example Wimbledon”, where all shops are decorated accordingly for the highlight of the year. “We’re starting small and want to get to the point where the whole city is dedicated to tennis in a few years,” said Baric. The actions in the city should draw attention to the offers of the shopping city and should not be understood as competition to the tournament grounds. From Sunday on there will also be a lot to offer away from the tennis court.
Bad Homburg Open 2022: A few tickets are still available
In the so-called “Baloise Park Village” along Brunnenallee there will be themed days and “attractions and variety for young and old” throughout the week, promises the manager of the tournament organizer, Perfect Match, Heiko Frasch. In addition to a city stand where tourist information and Bad Homburgensia is offered, the wheel of fortune is spun and souvenir photos can be taken with a life-size Angelique Kerber cardboard sign; 18 additional stands from partners and sponsors of the tournament will invite visitors to stroll and linger in the vineyard and café area. A serve machine and a mini tennis court will also be set up. On the first three days there will be show training sessions with Wimbledon head coach Dan Bloxham.
Visitors to the “Village” do not need a ticket. It will be freely accessible. “That was an important pillar of our concept. We wanted to create an event for everyone. All Bad Homburgers should at least be able to try tennis in the Kurpark,” says Frasch. Therefore, the two match courts docked to the Village could also be visited for the entire week without a ticket. Qualifying matches will be played there on Saturday, followed by further games of the main draw until Wednesday. However, the main action will of course take place on the center court, which can seat 3,500 spectators.
If you want tickets, hurry up. “Ticket sales went well. From the quarter-finals everything is completely sold out, with a few exceptions,” reports Frasch. Tickets are still available for Monday, Tuesday and some Wednesdays. The Bad Homburg hotels are also fully booked. “The demand was huge,” says spa director Reuter. 3,500 spectators on center court represented almost a six-fold increase compared to the “test run” last year. “That means significantly more material that is delivered and is a big challenge for us.”
Reuter is convinced that this will be mastered. “The Kurpark is a good place. We are extremely happy and will deliver again,” he promises. (Florian Neuroth)
