Before Tim van Rijthoven caused a furore on the sacred grass of Wimbledon, he won the prestigious National Ranking Tournament (NRT) of Tennis and Padel Association REO in Roden. This year the tournament celebrates an anniversary as it is being organized for the twentieth time.
The tournament in Roden is still growing every year. For several years now, it has been awarded four stars by the KNLTB, the national tennis association. “This year we have more than 500 participants”, says tournament leader Matthijs Goldberg. “That’s also because we now have a full-fledged padel tournament.”
REO already experimented with a padel tournament last year, says Goldberg. “That was a promotion tournament. Now it really counts for the KNLTB ranking.”
The association’s two padel courts have generated about 60 additional members in the past year alone. “It is very popular, not only among tennis players. Football players also like to play padel.”
The twentieth edition of the NRT in Roden may well go down in the books as the hottest in history. Today the mercury has already approached 30 degrees and that will be no different in the coming days.
“Still, we’d rather have this than rain,” Goldberg says. “Then you have to move matches. Rain also does not benefit the atmosphere.”
There is a heat plan. “There is one from the tennis association anyway, but we have also made preparations ourselves. There are cold bottles of water at every match and there are tubs of water with sponges.”
It has been pleasantly busy on and around the tennis courts since last Sunday. “That characterizes our tournament,” says Goldberg. “Playing takes place from 9:00 am to midnight or 1:00 am. Meanwhile, the public is having fun along the track.”
The organization looks every year at possibilities to make the tournament even more fun. “For example, we have moved the double final to Saturday evening. We hope that more audience will come there, because it is often a very pleasant evening. The other finals are played on Sunday.”
Although Tim van Rijthoven will not be participating this year, there are still plenty of big names left. Jarno Jans from Roden is perhaps the most appealing name. “A boy from the association who also comes from the village,” says Goldberg. “In addition, many top players will be in action. You can enjoy it until Sunday.”
Jarno’s brother – Sander – was already in action this afternoon. His opponent Arthur van der Kooij from Bergschenhoek was clearly a size too big with 6-3 and 6-0.