If you haven’t managed to secure Davis Cup tickets in Bologna or your budget doesn’t run that far, there’s an alternative. Community-centric Polisportiva Curiel in the Tuscan town of Pontassieve, just 25 minutes from Florence, is organizing a top-tier tennis and padel tournament from September 7 to 17, which will bring racquet stars from all over Italy.
Tennis players like Daniele Capecchi (best ranking ATP 473) and Samuele Pieri (ATP 997) will set the scene for this free-entry tournament, alongside leading Tuscan padel stars Federico Galli and Edoardo Sardella. “The first three days of the tournament will be dedicated to qualifications, followed by the start of the main draw,” commented Alessandro Manzini, lead instructor at Tennis and Padel Curiel, at a dinner attended by 160 people from the tennis community. “We’re looking forward to healthy competition in both day and night sessions. It’s worth taking time off work to come along and watch!” If you can’t take off any more holidays, you can watch the action and interviews with the players on the club’s active social media channels.
If tennis and padel aren’t your scene, the family-focused activities will interest everyone. Local optician Denise from Ottica Daniele presents a line of sunglasses produced especially for the occasion on September 7 at 6pm. A 1970s-‘90s revival disco night will set people dancing from 7.30pm onwards on Saturday, September 9, while kids will have a chance to try all the sports available at this welcoming club on Sunday, September 10 at 7.30pm. The events lineup continues on September 12 with a Chianti Classico wine tasting (20 euro), a street food party on September 14 and a country night with food by award-winning A Pancia Piena.
With 3,500 euro up for grabs for both the tennis and padel players, due to bank sponsors Generali and Credito Cooperativo di Pontassieve, don’t miss these ten days of top tennis and community events in Pontassieve.
