26 Oct Hawaii Makes History Hosting Women’s Tennis Fed Cup for Second Straight Year

George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), issued the following statement regarding today’s historic announcement that the United States and Germany will contend in the 2017 Fed Cup, the world’s foremost international women’s team tennis competition, at Maui’s Royal Lahaina Resort on February 11-12, 2017. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to host a FedCup match in consecutive years.

“All of Hawaii can be proud of the fact that the Fed Cup will be played in our Islands for a second straight year, the first time any state has earned that distinction. Mahalo to the United States Tennis Association for believing in Hawaii and partnering with HTA to bring the 2017 Fed Cup to Lahaina.

“This is a tremendous honor that speaks volumes about how the international tennis community views Hawaii for hosting world-class professional tennis. Last February, the Fed Cup and its players were welcomed with warmth and aloha in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii. The players loved the atmosphere and the entire experience was an inspiration for bringing the Fed Cup back to Hawaii.

“Hawaii will enjoy superb international exposure from the 2017 Fed Cup and it comes at a time of year when people worldwide will be looking to escape the chill of winter. Maui’s spectacular beauty will give them good incentive to think about visiting the Hawaiian Islands.

“Hawaii and world-class tennis are a perfect match. The 2017 Fed Cup in Lahaina is the third professional tennis tournament Hawaii is hosting in a year, following the 2016 Fed Cup last February in Kailua-Kona and the inaugural Hawaii Open taking place next month, when 32 world-ranked women’s tennis players will compete for the title at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.”