It was midway through the inaugural Women's Cayman Islands Open – the
$37,500 WISPA World Tour squash championship which reached its climax
at the weekend in Grand Cayman – that tournament director Dan Kneipp
announced that the event had already been such a success that
sponsorship was committed for an even bigger 2010 event.
"We have spoken a lot about the dream of hosting the 2010 event on a glass court, and how the 2010 tournament will be the vehicle that allows us to offer free squash to Cayman Juniors," Kneipp explained. "We are extremely pleased to announce that Camana Bay has confirmed that they'll not only be a Major Sponsor for the 2010 event, but also the Site Sponsor.
"The setting for the 2010 event will be on the waterfront at Camana Bay. Camana Bay is a vibrant new town situated between Grand Cayman's famous Seven Mile Beach and the picturesque North Sound. The four-walled glass court will be placed at The Crescent, between palm trees overlooking the harbour and boat docks and facing Camana Bay's restaurants and shops.
"There will be a lot more details on this, but we are ecstatic to partner with Camana Bay to make this event possible," Kneipp concluded.
Packed crowds at the South Sound Squash Club in Grand Cayman were treated to a star-studded event this year, led by the top five players in the world. Appropriately Nicol David and Natalie Grainger - the world number one and two, from Malaysia and the USA, respectively – contested the final, with David avenging the recent shock defeat by her Tour rival to win the coveted trophy.
Andrew Shelley, Chief Executive of the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), added: "This has been a great week of women's international squash, with the players blown away by everything that Dan Kneipp and his South Sound Club have achieved. If they can put on such a stunning presentation at the club, the thought of how much more they can achieve for Caymanian squash next year with the setting and flexibility of a glass court at Camana Bay is mouth-watering.
"A sensational debut. WISPA events don't get much better than this! Players will be falling over themselves to come back next year, and I will be forcing myself to return too!"