By Mark Winters
For twenty-five years during the Gerry Weber Open, Thursday evening was traditionally reserved for a Media Party. Frank Hofen, the widely appreciated and truly loved Media Director, radiated joy because he so enjoyed doing his job. Annually he (with the tournament’s blessing) saluted a group of journalists and photographers at these gatherings. (Cheryl Jones and I were the International Journalists recognized in 2012).
Hofen, who spent twenty-five years in his position retired following the 2017 tournament, and Sascha Detlefsen, his long-time assistant, has now assumed Media Director responsibilities. Ever-friendly and gregarious, he decided, along with Gerry Weber Open tournament officials, to stage a Media Brunch, on June 19th, at the Gerry Weber Open Sportpark Hotel instead of holding a dinner. It was also decided to salute an individual in the tennis community, at large, who had truly made a difference rather than focus on media members.
In Halle Westfalen, the tournament’s home, there is no one who has done as much for tennis and the local economy than Gerhard (Gerry) Weber. A monumentally successful women’s clothing manufacturer, he founded Hatex KG, (which became Gerry Weber in 1989 and is now Gerry Weber International) with close friend and business partner, Udo Hardieck, in 1973.
Twenty-years of success in the business world led Weber, who is an avid recreational tennis player, (a crafty left-hander to be precise) to make a decision. In 1992, he, along with his son, Ralf, organized a $25,000 ATP Challenger event on the terre battue courts at TC Blau-Weiss, (basically, their club then as it is now, and Ralf is a member of an outstanding Bundesliga Men’s 50 team). Gerry Weber had made his mark in the women’s fashion industry. He accomplished that by creating five “ladies fashion” lines offering affordable prices for everyone. Because of his business savvy, coupled with the success enjoyed by the initial tournament, he fully believed that team Weber was ready to host an ATP event.
The organization that in effect, rules men’s tennis agreed and said the week after Roland Garros was open. The only problem was the time frame that in those days, was merely a week before Wimbledon. Staging a tournament on the surface, when the terre battue season was for all intents and purposes, completed, made no sense at all.
So, the Webers decided to initiate the first grass court tennis tournament in northern Germany – and he has admitted, “people thought we were crazy”. The Gerry Weber Open, (Halle as most tennis aficionados call the championship), began in 1993. Given the spring weather Europe that meant rain, and plenty of it. Gerry Weber got wet the first year, but being a man of action, he came up with a solution – Put a closeable roof over center court.
The project was completed in time for the 1994 tournament, which delighted the 12,300 spectators who can be seated in Gerry Weber Stadion. They remained dry whenever the skies opened up. Since then the Gerry Weber Open, and its multipurpose center court, have become storied.
According to Pliny the Elder, “Home is where the heart is” and that is certainly the case with Gerry Weber, and Ralf too. Halle is their base, and this is clearly seen in the way the local populations supports the championship. In fact, Halle is “the peoples’ tournament.” It is because the Webers do their utmost to encourage local endeavors, whether they are individual or group efforts.
Today, the Deutscher Tennis Bund (DTB) recognized all that Gerry Weber has done for the game and the Halle community. Ulrich Klaus, DTB President, honored the 77-year-old. Klaus noted how pleased he was to give the award to such a special individual who had done so much for tennis fans, but also for youngsters as well as adult and seniors who play the game. (It is further significant because the DTB has only presented the accolade on one other occasion.)
When Weber had an opportunity to speak, his enthusiasm was evident. His recollections were revealing and humorous. He mentioned a call he had received from an individual who lived near the Gerry Weber Open facility who was unhappy with someone singing very loudly. He told the caller to open all the windows in the house because it would be an opportunity to listen to Pavarotti sing, and it would be absolutely free.
He touched on how proud he was that the tournament has progressed so far since its beginning. He pointed out that the Gerry Weber Open has gotten better and better each year, and now it enjoys international respect.
And, all these years later, the same can be said of Gerry Weber.
