JUST over a decade ago, Anders Borg was being shown Calderstones Park, in south Liverpool, in his quest to find a venue for a new tennis tournament.

“We can’t hold it here,” he told his city council hosts. “The whole park is on a slope.”

However, he persevered and a small section of the park was identified as being suitable.

It was duly flattened to create a centre court fit for the world’s best players.

And so, in the summer of 2002, the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament was born, an event that has become a jewel in the crown of the city’s social and sporting calendar.

Mr Borg, a Norwegian who was then a currency derivatives trader in the City of London, set up Northern Vision to manage the event.

Now the city centre-based company works all year round to organise the tournament, which this year takes place from June 16-19.

It also now stages annual tournaments in Manchester, Nottingham and Marbella.

The four-day tournament features both current world-ranked players and legends who this year include former Wimbledon champions Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis and Greg Rusedski.

“I could never have imagined 10 years ago that the tournament would become this big – it is almost unbelievable,” said Mr Borg.

“I was making a good living in my job, but I wanted to get more satisfaction, and had always wanted to get involved in sport. We were looking at sites all around England and when we came to Calderstones we saw what a beautiful park it was.

“People said to me ‘you must be crazy – Liverpool is not a tennis city’, but I knew this would be the perfect place. The city council was right behind us from day one.

“The leader at the time was Mike Storey, and since then we have dealt with Warren Bradley and now Joe Anderson.

“They have all put politics aside to give us their full support.”

Northern Vision’s four-strong team has to find well over £750,0000 every year to stage the event, mainly through sponsorship, and also through tickets sales and hospitality.

Around 20 local firms and organisations are already providing support and sponsorship, including law firm Brabners Chaffe Street, the Hilton Hotel and King Sturge.

The latest to sign up is car maker Saab, through the local Lookers dealership. Mr Borg said: “The motor industry is one of the biggest supporters of tennis around the world, so it was really good to get Saab involved.

“As soon as the tournament is finished each year, the team is looking for sponsorship for the next year.

“That is the best time to start, because it is still fresh in people’s minds. It is becoming more difficult at the moment because of the economic climate and the Government cuts.

“In the weeks leading up to the event, the team is working flat-out – there are no bank holidays.

“During the event itself, we will employ more than 150 people.”

Mr Borg’s own family home is in Norway, where he lives with wife Jeanine and children, Alexandra, 13, and Felix, 10.

He gave up his City job 18 months ago and now works full time for Northern Vision.

“I have to spend a lot of time away from them as the tournament approaches – too much time, my wife says,” he joked.

“But I try to bring them over for the tournament – both my kids now play the game, and I am turning into a pushy tennis parent.”

Mr Borg says the Liverpool tournament differs significantly from the Manchester, Nottingham and Marbella events.

He added: “They take place within established tennis clubs, but in Liverpool we build a tennis village in a public park – that makes it unique.

“It is one of the biggest exhibition events in Europe.

“What we set out to do with the tournament was to take away the snobbish element and make it open to everyone, and I think we have succeeded in that.

“Lots of ordinary people love tennis, but for many being able to afford to go to Wimbledon is almost impossible. Here, people can watch top players all day from just £9 – that is great value.” Taking tennis to the masses is a theme Mr Borg is passionate about, and, immediately after this year’s tournament, Northern Vision will launch a tennis academy in Liverpool.

Youngsters involved will be able to access hours of coaching at the David Lloyds sports centre, in Speke.

Mr Borg said: “Since the tournament started, we have worked with local schools to introduce more than 50,000 children to tennis.

“But after the tournament finished there has been nowhere for most of them to follow up that interest, and that is what the academy idea is all about.

“In a few years’ time, we want Liverpool to be producing top tennis players.”

Mr Borg said that bringing the big stars to Liverpool had become much easier as the reputation of the tournament has grown.

He added: “The players have come to love the atmosphere of the event.

“The tennis circuit is very competitive and they can find it quite lonely. Here, we try to build a team spirit between them.

“On one of the nights of the tournament, we will sit them all down for dinner at the Hilton, where they are really looked after.

“My dream is to set up a match in Liverpool between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg – I would really love to make that happen.”