With prize money as high as 10 000 USD, EMPIRE FUTURES Trnava 2015 provides ideal chance for young players, and not only Slovakian, to gain important points into ATP rankings. This year the tournament will write it’s third chapter. Kamil Capkovic dominated the first historic event in Trnava, two years ago, and last year it was Jan Satral from Czech Republic winning it.
In singles of the main draw, being played in TC EMPIRE tennis club in Trnava, are by 24th July four Slovaks – Marek Semjan, Patrik Fabian, Martin Blasko and Oliver Nagy (wild card holder). Fabian, Blasko and Nagy belong to the next generation of young Slovakian players, who are happy to pick up first experiences with men’s tournaments.
Blasko is TC EMPIRE tennis club Trnava member and at the same time Slovak tennis extraleague winner in 2015. He won the trophy alongside Capkovic, Cervenak, Stancik, Klec, Pospisil and already mentioned Nagy. Blasko is currently having the most successful season after starting playing on men’s circuit. In June, he reached the singles final of Futures tournament in Slovenian Litija. After successes on same category tournaments in Usti nad Orlici (singles semi-final) and in Brno (quarterfinal), he moved up in the ATP rankings to No. 783, which remains his career highest.
Main draw of the tournament will also feature home club member and member of EMPIRE Tennis Academy Oliver Nagy, receiving wild card from the local organizing committee. Nagy is coached by Kamil Capkovic in Trnava’s academy and current season is a restart in his career after having problems with injuries. His comeback is solid so far, in May 2015, he was rewarded for his hard work with first ATP point. Nagy worked his way from the singles qualifying into the second round of Futures tournament in Brcko, in Bosnia and Hercegovina and he is once again in the ATP rankings.
EMPIRE Futures Trnava 2015 will begin on 2nd August with singles qualifying with 64 players in the draw. Eight of them will advance into main draw, consisting of 32 players, beginning on 4th August. Main draw of doubles will feature 16 pairs. Doubles final is scheduled on 8th August and singles final on Sunday 9th August at 11:00 am. Winner of the tournament will be awarded with 18 points into the ATP ranking, finalist 10, semi-finalists 6, quarterfinalists 2 and one point is for players advancing into the second round.
Home based player Kamil Capkovic, nowadays also a coach, won the singles title in 2013 after beating Adrian Sikora in the final in two dramatic sets 7-6(7), 7-5. Rarity was, there were all four Slovakian players in the semi-finals, Adrian Sikora played against Milos Mecir and Kamil Capkovic against Filip Horansky. Czech pair Lukas Marsoun/Dominik Suc won the doubles title.
Jan Satral from Czech Republic defends the title from last year’s EMPIRE Futures Trnava 2014 (3 - 10 August), who beat his countryman Vaclav Safranek 6-4, 7-6(5) in the final and he added doubles title as well together with Filipsky.
All fans of men’s tennis are warmly welcomed every day from 11:00 am on TC EMPIRE tennis courts, on Jan Hajdoczy Street 11 in Trnava.
Free entrance!
Martin Blasko during the Slovak tennis extraleague final (Photo: Milan Hutera, Tennis Arena)
