Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson was the first to try out the centre court at Calderstones Park today at the press launch of the 2010 Liverpool International Tennis Tournament.
Councillor Anderson joined local star Chloe Murphy and Men's Qualifying Finalists Simon Roberts and Frederik Sletting-Johnsen on the newly prepared court as the finishing touches were being applied to the stadium arena.
Showing some nifty footwork and a powerful forehand the council leader proved he was comfortably at home on a tennis court; "I used to play on the courts in Sefton Park a long time ago," said Joe. "If I'd have brought my tennis shoes I'd have stayed out there a little longer."
Joe joined Tournament Director Anders Borg and BBC Radio Merseyside's Alan Jackson for an on-court press conference to officially launch the 2010 event which will feature legends such as John McEnroe, Martina Hingis and Mansour Bahrami as well as ATP stars Paul-Henri Mathieu, Nicolas Massu and WTA players Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Bogdan and Ulrikke Eikeri.
"We're all excited to see John McEnroe here at Calderstones," said Borg. "He's the legend of legends and I'm sure the Liverpool fans will be eager to see him playing here.
"It's also great to welcome back Martina Hingis, who played here last year and loved every minute of it. It promises to be an exciting tournament and we are all looking forward to a great week of tennis starting on Wednesday."
The finalists for the Men's qualifying also got a feel for the court ahead if their final at 12 noon on Tuesday. Simon Roberts and Frederik Sletting-Johnsen go head-to-head to win a place in the Men's ATP event.
Tickets are on sale from the Calderstones Park box office and also from Ticketmaster, the Echo Arena and the 08 Place