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ATP CHALLENGER SERIES

Sponcers
SUNTORY
MIZUNO
Tokyu Sports System


Sponcers
ENOTECA
BRIDGESTONE
ROYAL DOULTON

Greeting
Yuichiro Anzai  
Yuichiro Anzai
Yuichiro Anzai
Chairman
President, Keio University
  Founded by Yukichi Fukuzawa in 1858, Keio University is a private university that boasts a long history and proud tradition. Next year, in 2008, Keio will become the first modern Japanese university to celebrate its 150th anniversary. To commemorate this achievement, we are now hosting the “Keio University 150th Anniversary Event Keio Challenger International Tennis Tournament 2008”.
Keio University Tennis Club has a history of more than 100 years, and now, with the current climate for promoting tennis in universities, I am delighted that an international tennis tournament hosted by this University will give young up-and-coming players an opportunity to further develop their skills. It is my heartfelt hope that this tournament, through links with other Challenger and Futures tournaments, will help to nurture promising tennis players based in Asia. I also expect the tournament to make a major contribution to the promotion of tennis in Japanese universities and in the nation as a whole. Finally, I sincerely hope that all the players taking part will fully manifest the fruits of their hard training and discipline, and will produce performances that will serve as a springboard for their further development in future.
I look forward to some great contests and performances by all the players who will take part in this tournament. At the same time, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has provided sponsorship, support or cooperation in holding this tournament.
     
     
Norikazu Kudo   Norikazu Kudo
Norikazu Kudo
Vice Chairman
General Manager, The Keio University Tennis Club
Vice-President, Keio University
  Our Alma Mater, Keio University, celebrates the 150th anniversary next year. Keio University and her proud sons and daughters, the Keio University Tennis Club are going to host the Keio Challenger International Tennis Tournament 2008. This commemorative project was made possible by the sponsorship of Suntory Limited, Mizuno Corporation, Tokyu Sports System Co., Ltd. and many other friends and supporters. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped us.
The Keio Tennis Club, established in 1901, has produced many famed players such as Mr. Kumagaya and Mr. Harada. The world has changed from their times. We hold up the same objective, however, of bringing up university tennis players beyond the level of intercollegiate activities.
We find it essential for students to compete in a wider arena in order to improve their competence. We believe it indispensable for them to emulate the skills of the players from all over the world. The prospective tournament promises a great opportunity for them to widen their perspectives and learn the importance of creative relationships with the youths from diverse backgrounds.
“Design the Future” is the key note of Keio’s 150th anniversary, meaning to foster in each student to design independent and cooperative attitudes wherever he/she finds his/her place in society. We cherish that this tournament program enhances the spirit of this overall design.
We are hoping that this tournament will have not a minor contribution to the Japanese tennis scene including the university tennis.
     

Takeshi Kurioka		  
Takeshi Kurioka
Takeshi Kurioka
Executive Director
Chairman, The Keio Tennis of Mita-kai (Alumni Association)
  Keio University celebrates the 150th anniversary in 2008. As one of the commemorative events of the anniversary, Keio University decided to host “The Keio Challenger International Tennis Tournament 2008”. The Keio Tennis of Mita-kai, the alumni association of the Keio University Tennis Club, will play the role of management of this tournament.
The Keio University Tennis Club, born in 1901, is proud of its many players of the worldly fame, and the Team has always played the leading role in the domestic tennis scenes as well as international. Recently we see promising students and tennis players, both speakers of words and doer of deeds, who will revitalize the present Japanese tennis scene.
We hope that our new projects provide the domestic players, both in- and outside of the Keio University Tennis Club, with a fresh opportunity to compete their skills with their equals from abroad. We hope that the project will provide no less fruitful experience for the students who would play active roles as managers and supporters of the international scenes.
Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to Suntory Limited, Mizuno Corporation, and Tokyu Sports System Co., Ltd. for their sponsorship of this tournament, and to everyone who extended their good wills for this undertaking.
     
     
Toshiaki Sakai  
Toshiaki Sakai
Toshiaki Sakai
Tournament Director
Chief Coach, The Keio University Tennis Club
  In 2008, Keio University celebrates its 150th anniversary. Keio Challenger is one of the commemorative events of this anniversary, and I feel very honored to be able to manage this event as the Tournament Director.
Recently, the Keio University Tennis Club has done well in producing top student players, including a Universiade representative and doubles winners of the Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament. Keio University and the Keio University Tennis Club are now committed to support these talented youths compete in global arena. In order to realize this commitment, we decided to create a new tennis tournament, Keio Challenger, where promising young players can intensively compete with each other. Up to now, Japan had only two ATP managed tournaments. When I was playing in international tours, I observed many foreign players strived into world top 100 rankings after winning challenger tournaments hosted in their countries. I sincerely hope that Keio Challenger paves the way for promising youths to break into world top 100 and, as a result, changes the dynamics of Japanese and Asian tennis scenes.
Many Keio University students are engaged in the management of this tournament. Such experience should contribute to develop university tennis from various aspects as well.
Lastly, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the special sponsors, Suntory Limited, Mizuno Corporation, Tokyu Sports System Co., Ltd. and many other supporters.