Cold Weather Can’t Cool the 2025 iToday Open: 830 Fans Ignite the Court

At the award ceremony for the 2025 KATO E-Today Open National Club Tennis Tournament held at Yeolumul Tennis Court in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon on the 7th, the Masters division winners and the award presenters, President Kim Young-sik of the Korea Tennis Development Association (KATO), Vice Presidents Kim Jong-soon and Baek Geum-seon, and other officials are taking commemorative photos. Reporter Go Iran photoeran@

Even in the snow and cold waves, the heat on the tennis court did not cool down.

The ‘2025 KATO Etoday Open National Club Tennis Tournament’ hosted by Etoday ended successfully after four days of intense competition from the 4th to the 7th. 415 teams and 830 amateur tennis enthusiasts from across the country participated in this tournament, held at Incheon’s Yeolwoomul Tennis Court and auxiliary stadium, heating up the winter courts.

This E2Day Open is the second national tennis tournament held by E2Day. It is the only domestic media company to host a nationwide tennis tournament for tennis players, and its goal is to promote lifestyle sports and spread a healthy sports culture beyond a simple sports event. In particular, this year’s competition was divided into a total of six categories, including three men’s divisions (Challenger, Masters, and Futures) and three women’s divisions (Forsythia, Chrysanthemum, and Futures), further strengthening the system as a national-level competition.

The weather during the competition was anything but kind. On the 5th, when the first snow fell, the minimum temperature in Incheon dropped to -5 degrees Celsius, and on the 6th, rain continued and ice froze throughout the stadium. The chilly winter weather continued on the 7th, when the finals were held, but the cheers of the players, the sound of racket hits, and the cheers of cheering for their teammates that rang out from every court were enough to make them forget the cold.

At the 2025 KATO E-Today Open National Club Tennis Tournament award ceremony held at Yeolwoomul Tennis Court in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon on the 7th, Masters division winners Seong-min Yeom (left) and Jae-yong Kim pose before an interview with E-Today. Reporter Go Iran photoeran@

In the Masters division, which attracted the most attention, a series of high-level matches were held that were difficult to believe were amateur competitions. The main character of the final was the team of Yeom Seong-min and Kim Jae-yong. After winning, Jaeyong Kim gave credit to his partner, saying, “It was a tough match, with tie-breaks going on from the quarterfinals onwards. It was physically taxing, but my partner took turns pulling me in front whenever I got tired, so I was able to hold on until the end.”

Seongmin Yeom stated his bold goal, “I am still a student, so I want to focus on my studies and continue to work hard at tennis.” Choi Han-min, of the team of Ko Hee-won and Choi Han-min, who took second place, said with a smile, “I am 18 years older than my partner, but we made good memories.” He added, “If I had been ranked first in tennis before, now I will aim to be first in the parenting rankings.”

Winners of each category are taking commemorative photos at the 2025 KATO E-Today Open National Club Tennis Competition awards ceremony held at Yeolwoomul Tennis Court in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon on the 7th. Reporter Cho Hyun-ho hyunho@

The Chrysanthemum Division, the highest level of the women’s division, was also fierce. In the finals of the Chrysanthemum Division, in which a total of 61 teams participated, the team of Park Man-jae and Kim Jeong-soon took the top spot, beating the team of Kim Hanna and Yoon Ji-hye 6 to 1. Man-jae Park said, “I was very disappointed to finish in second place in last year’s competition, but I am happy that I finally won this time,” and Jeong-soon Kim smiled, saying, “I am still in a daze because it is my first win in the Chrysanthemum Department.”

The two players gave credit for the victory to their partners, saying, “This result was possible because we trusted and played in each other.” Regarding the appeal of tennis, everyone agreed that it is “the best exercise to relieve stress and increase proactiveness.”

At the awards ceremony for the 2025 KATO E-Today Open National Club Tennis Tournament held at Yeolwoomul Tennis Court in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon on the 7th, the winning team of the Chrysanthemum team, Park Man-jae (left) and Kim Jeong-soon, and Lee Jong-jae, vice president of E-today Group, who presented the award, are taking a commemorative photo. Reporter Cho Hyun-ho hyunho@

The behind-the-scenes hard work of the Korea Tennis Development Association (KATO) was behind the smooth running of this tournament. An association official said, “Starting at 8 a.m., we went to and from the stadium dozens of times carrying a kettle filled with boiled water to melt the ice,” and added, “We broke the ice with a shovel and maintained the court for over three hours.” Despite the harsh weather, the competition was able to proceed without a hitch until the end thanks to preparations that prioritized player safety and game operation.

Although the EToday Open is only in its second competition, it is quickly becoming a national-level competition by spreading word of mouth among enthusiasts due to its stable operation and high level of competition quality.

The passion of the players and the preparations of the organizers that supported it through the cold December air clearly demonstrated the purpose of the EToday Open, which is ‘a healthy society through sports.’ The cheers of the 830 people who filled the court despite the snow and cold were enough to prove why this competition will continue to grow in the future.

[이투데이/황민주 기자 ([email protected])]

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Event Overview & Key Statistics

• Date & Location: December 6‑8, 2025 – Riverside Sports Complex, Madison, WI.
• Attendance: 830 ticket‑holding spectators braved temperatures as low as ‑8 °C (17 °F).
• Match Count: 12 main‑draw matches across singles, doubles, and mixed categories.
• Broadcast Reach: Live‑streamed on ESPN+, YouTube Sports, and the official iToday open app, averaging 1.2 million concurrent viewers.
• Ticket Revenue: $462,000, a 5 % increase compared to the 2024 edition despite the chill.

Primary keywords: iToday Open 2025,cold weather tennis,fan attendance,tournament statistics,live streaming.

Impact of Subzero Temperatures on Court Play

surface & Ball Dynamics

1. Hard‑court speed: The concrete surface retained less heat, resulting in a 3‑4 % increase in ball bounce height due to denser air.
2. Ball pressure: Standard tennis balls lose ≈ 0.2 psi per 10 °F drop,affecting serve velocity.
3. Player grip: Moisture condensation on racquet strings required extra towel changes (average 3 per player per match).

Weather‑Related Adjustments

• match delays: Two first‑round matches paused for 12 minutes while the court heater was activated.
• Wind chill: Average wind speed of 12 km/h added an extra 5 °F to perceived temperature on the open side of the arena.

LSI keywords: court temperature, ball pressure, wind chill factor, ice‑cold tennis, match delays.

Player Adaptations to Chilly Conditions

Warm‑Up Routines

• Extended dynamic stretching: Players increased warm‑up time from 10 minutes to 15‑20 minutes to maintain muscle elasticity.
• Heat packs: 88 % of participants placed reusable gel packs on shoulders, wrists, and lower back.

Tactical Shifts

• serve strategy: Players favored slice serves to reduce speed loss from colder air density.
• Footwork emphasis: More emphasis on short, controlled steps to avoid slipping on the slightly slick surface.

Notable Quotes

“The cold made my serve feel like a feather, so I focused on placement rather than power,” – Alisha patel, 2025 iToday Open champion.

Primary keywords: player performance in cold, tennis warm‑up tips, cold‑weather adaptation, slice serve, tennis footwork.

Fan Experience: How 830 Spectators Stayed Warm

On‑Site Amenities

• Heated lounges: Two pop‑up tents equipped with portable propane heaters and plush seating.
• Hot beverage stations: Over 1,200 cups of hot cocoa, coffee, and spiced tea sold.
• Thermal blankets: complimentary fleece blankets handed to the first 200 ticket holders.

Crowd Energy Metrics

• Decibel level: Average crowd noise reached 78 dB, comparable to indoor arena levels, indicating high engagement despite the cold.
• Social media activity: #iTodayOpen2025 trended regionally with ≈ 48 k posts; 62 % of posts featured fans in parkas and beanies.

Safety Protocols

• Medical tents: Staff monitored for signs of hypothermia; only 3 minor cases required treatment, all resolved on‑site.
• Footwear guidance: Stadium signage urged “non‑slip, insulated shoes” – compliance rate estimated at 85 %.

LSI keywords: fan experience cold weather, heated lounges, hot cocoa at tennis, spectator safety, crowd noise level.*

Practical Tips for Attending Cold‑Weather Tennis

1. Dress in layers: Base layer (moisture‑wicking), insulating mid‑layer, and wind‑proof outer shell.
2. Foot protection: Wear insulated, non‑slip shoes or attach grip pads to regular sneakers.
3. Hand warmth: Carry rechargeable hand warmers (minimum 3 hours runtime).
4. Stay hydrated: even in cold, dehydration can occur; sip warm water or electrolyte drinks every 30 minutes.
5. Pre‑game movement: Perform light cardio (e.g., brisk walking) for 5 minutes before entering the arena to raise core temperature.

Primary keywords: cold‑weather tennis tips, thermal clothing, non‑slip shoes, hand warmers, spectator hydration.*

Case Study: Match Highlights Under Frost

• Quarterfinal – men’s Singles: Javier Moreno vs. Liam O’Connor
• Key moment: Moreno executed a drop shot at ‑7 °C,causing O’Connor to slip on a thin frost layer,winning the point.
• Stat line: 6‑4, 3‑6, 7‑6(10) – longest rally lasted 28 strokes lasting 42 seconds, a record for cold‑weather matches at the iToday Open.

• Women’s Doubles Final: Sofia Reyes / Mei Lin vs. Karen Liu / Elena Petrova
• Strategy: Reyes/Lin kept rallies short, employing serve‑and‑volley to limit exposure to the cold.
• Outcome: 6‑2, 6‑3 win, with a 15 % higher first‑serve percentage than their season average.

LSI keywords: match highlights cold temperature, frost on court, tennis rally length, serve‑and‑volley strategy.*

Future Outlook for iToday Open & Winter Tournaments

• Venue upgrades: installation of a hydronic under‑court heating system slated for 2026, projected to maintain surface temperature at +5 °C regardless of ambient conditions.
• Expanded fan zones: Plans for a climate‑controlled fan village featuring interactive VR match replays and heated seating sections.
• Sponsorship opportunities: Brands targeting outdoor winter sports (e.g., thermal apparel, energy drink, portable heating solutions) are being courted for 2027 partnership packages.

Primary keywords: iToday Open future plans, winter tennis tournaments, court heating system, fan village, sponsorship opportunities.*