bett1open in Berlin from 12th to 20th of June 2021

Women’s tennis of the highest level paired with a cool and unique musical and cultural program – this is what the premiere of the bett1open from 12-20 June 2021 in Berlin stands for. Fans therefore cannot only expect absolute world-class tennis but also lots of innovations on and off the grass courts at this WTA 500 tournament held at the Steffi-Graf-Stadium on the grounds of the LTTC “Rot-Weiß” e.v.

“With our title sponsor bett1, we have a great partner who believes in the tournament and its philosophy. Only thanks to a multitude of reliable partners, among them Fila, Lavazza, Tennis Warehouse, Broil King and the Skjerven Group – who are all backing the tournament – it is possible in times like these to organize a big tournament at all”, explains Edwin Weindorfer, CEO of the e|motion group and organizer of the bett1open. “We want to create emotions to set ourselves apart from other tournaments and push the sport of tennis forward. The bett1open will be different and you will be able to feel this. We already showed with the bett1HULKS in Cologne how sportainment can look like. In Berlin we will build on this experience.”

The bett1open also rely on new and innovative technologies. Fans at the Steffi-Graf-Stadium can look forward to 360 degree LED boards and electronic line calling (HAWK EYE). There will also be a special tournament app which will offer exclusive information about the tournament. The WTA tournament will be produced with eleven TV cameras and broadcasted to 120 countries all over the world. ServusTV is the free TV partner in Germany, broadcasting all the matches. “The high-quality coverage will also put our partners and sponsors in the best possible light which is – besides a multitude of innovative activation opportunities – an important basis for a successful commitment”, Weindorfer adds.

So that the tournament can be conducted under the highest possible security for all persons involved in the event, the e|motion group once again relies on the proven hygiene and safety concept which already allowed the realization of the bett1ACES in Berlin and the bett1HULKS in Cologne last year. This hygiene and safety concept will be expanded by the requirements of the WTA. Besides the currently effective hygiene measures, additional procedures like the implementation of rapid tests are planned.

“We are very optimistic and hope that as many tennis fans as possible will be able to watch the matches live and on the event site. Of course, we are in constant exchange with the local authorities, the responsible public health department and the city of Berlin”, says tournament director Barbara Rittner, who counts on a high-class roster of players. “We are very happy that Angie Kerber has already committed to the tournament. I also assume that the other German players, as well as lots of international top players will play here. Our tournament belongs among the strongest weeks on the WTA tour and is scheduled perfectly between Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Interest in the tournament was already great last year, so the fans can really look forward to a strong field of excellent players.”

Sally Bolton, AELTC Chief Executive, commented: “The All England Club is delighted that the bett1open is on track to be staged this year and Berlin will make its long-awaited return to the WTA calendar. We were very grateful for the overwhelming support from our fans following the cancellation of the grass court season last year and we know how eager they are to see the world’s best players back on grass in 2021. The announcement that former world No.1 and Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber is confirmed to headline the tournament is a major coup for the event and it will be a special moment for Angelique to compete in front of her home crowd. We have worked closely with our partners, including e|motion sports and Octagon, over several years to build a strengthened grass court season and the bett1open will play a critical role in preparing the players for The Championships, Wimbledon.”

Adam Szpyt, founder and CEO of bett1.de, as well as initiator of “Tennis macht Schule”, an initiative with which bett1 wants to promote and support tennis in its entirety, is convinced that tennis will be put in a completely new light with this tournament. “The bett1open are a collective effort for the future. We believe in innovations and want to develop the tournament – and the history linked with it – together. Furthermore, we will involve Berlin’s music and cultural scene into the tournament so that our sportainment concept will set new standards.

Admission of fans at the bett1open will be dependent on the effective SARS-CoV-2 infection protection law of the Berlin Senate. The respective scenarios have already been worked out and are permanently adapted to the dynamic status of the pandemic. It is planned that only personalized tickets and seating in a “checkerboard pattern” at the Steffi-Graf-Stadium on the event site of the LTTC “Rot-Weiß” e.v. will be available.

Rittner: “Our plans involve all possible scenarios concerning the number of allowed audiences.” Detailed information for the possible availability of tickets will be communicated over all channels of the bett1open as soon as possible. Interested fans can also subscribe to the newsletter at the bett1.open website, thus ensuring to not miss the start of the pre-sale.