Tournament Director
WELCOME TO NANAO
I welcome you all to “Noto Wakura International Women‘s Open Tennis 2024”, known as “NANAO”. This tournament has been running in the beautiful and famous Noto Peninsula for 14 years as US$25,000 tournament. Karolina Pliskova, Tamarine Tanasugarn and many others have won this tournament in the past.
Last year, International Tennis Federation has asked Japan Tennis Association to establish new US$40,000 tournament in Japan, and I was chosen to realize it. The first US$40,000 tournament took place last year with a big success.
On January 1st, 2024, very big earthquake took place in Noto Peninsula. Many lives and houses have been lost. When I went to Australian Open right after the earthquake, many of my friends including Billie Jean King, Pam Whitecross have expressed their anxiety to me.
Some people have advised me to postpone the tournament for a year, but Mr. Hase, the Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, Mr. Chatani, Mayor of the City of Nanao, Japan Tennis Association, many Sponsor companies, local tennis associations and supporters have expressed their strong support to realize this tournament for this year. I had to looked for new sponsors, additional local support, status of tennis courts and accommodation, and I have solved most of the problems. I needed some extra work.
The place is called Wakura Onsen, Nanao City. One of the most famous hot spring resort, with a beautiful countryside surroundings facing the Asian Continent. Not only the hot spring but also good country food, SASHIMI, Noto Beef, and fruits. Also, dolphin watching, golf, fishing are famous activities. People are so nice and kind. Most of the staffs are from local. This is different and important from others. Many of the tournaments are run by companies in Japan, but this tournament is famous for its originality. More than 50 companies of local, Kanazawa, Tokyo, Osaka and other cities have joined to sponsor the tournament. Some hotels are not open yet after the earthquake. I have made a special offer with Hotel Notoraku. Hotel Alpha One is closed this year.
I used to be a professional tennis player when there were almost no Japanese women players on the international tour. 15 years at Wimbledon, finalist of women’s doubles and last eight of singles in Australian Open etc. I have been struggling to make the women’s tennis equal to men’s tennis. When I was a student at University of Houston, I lived at home of Gladys Heldman, the founder of WTA, in Houston and joined the talks how to realize the women’s tennis with Billie Jean King and others. I hope to see you all at Nanao, this year.
Any communications to notowakuratennis@gmail.com
Tournament Director Naoko Sato
