Storm Cornish, Fiji’s Pacific Games gold medallist, will use the Vodafone Suva Open Tennis Championships this week as a crucial tune-up for two international tournaments in Australia next year. At just 20 years old, Cornish has already etched his name in Fiji’s tennis history by winning the country’s first men’s doubles gold in more than six decades at the 2023 Pacific Games, alongside William O’Connell.
Cornish is set to compete in both the singles and doubles events over the four-day championship. The Suva Open attracts overseas-based players as well, and Cornish believes the competition will provide him valuable match play as he builds toward next year’s international calendar.
Ahead of the event, Cornish has been helping out with coaching in Suva for the past two months, working with the local junior programs and focusing on fundamentals such as serves and returns. He says the experience has been rewarding and is looking forward to the championship getting underway. The tournament kicks off at the Victoria and Suva Lawn Tennis Courts and will wrap up on Sunday, with domestic and visiting players ready to test their mettle.
The Suva Open is part of a broader push to grow tennis in Fiji and the Pacific region. It benefits from Vodafone Fiji’s ongoing sponsorship, which has reinforced the event’s status and supported the development of local players. In recent years, the championship has drawn well over a hundred participants from Fiji and surrounding Pacific nations, underscoring its role as a proving ground for future stars and a community celebration of the sport.
Additional insights
– The Vodafone Suva Open has become a flagship event for Fiji tennis, drawing 100-plus players from across the Pacific and benefiting from stable sponsorship through 2026.
– The tournament venues—Victoria Tennis Courts, Suva Lawn Tennis Club, and Pathik Tennis Club in Namadi Heights—offer a broad stage for players to showcase talent and for coaches like Cornish to contribute to local development.
– The event is increasingly viewed as a stepping stone for young players, with Junior grades added in recent years to foster the next generation of Fiji’s tennis talent.
Summary
Storm Cornish’s participation at the Vodafone Suva Open highlights both his rise on the international stage and his commitment to developing tennis in Fiji. By competing while giving back through coaching and training locally, he is helping to strengthen Fiji’s presence in Pacific tennis and setting the scene for success in Australia next year.
Positive spin
The week promises not only exciting competition but also a proud showcase of Fiji’s growing tennis program, powered by athlete-led coaching, regional camaraderie, and sustained sponsorship that supports young players and the sport’s future.
Leave a comment