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12/10/09 2:00 AM | Johan Lindahl
The proud clay tradition of South American tennis may have to be slowly forgotten if the continent is to attract even local players to its run of ATP events which fall in February inconveniently between a pair of key hardcourt swings.
The ten-year-old Buenos Aires event in late February is reportedly considering an eventual swap to hard court in hopes of attracting the likes of Juan Martin Del Potro, the homegrown US Open champion.
With hardcourts dominating the calendar, working in a month-long clay period after the Australian Open and prior to the North American cements Masters events in California and Florida is a thankless task.
Even Del Potro has refused to commit to Buenos AIres, due mainly to its surface.
"First there is the Australia Open, and then the first are important tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami," said Miguel Nido, boss of the firm which runs the Argentine event,
"It is difficult for Europeans to decide to come to this region to play on clay."
"Ten years ago was different, the top ten South American players and (Gustavo) Kuerten or (Marcelo) Rios always appeared, but the players have changed and so has the world.
"What will happen the day that Fernando (Gonzalez) no longer plays (in Vina del Mar, Chile). "We are concerned, it's a difficult situation."
The event will manage on clay next February with David Nalbandian and the return to competition of Spain's popular Carlos Moya, out for months with injury in the twilight of his career.
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I think the hard court events (IW/Miami) should be shifted to earlier time slots, maybe late Feb to early March. After that, the clay events could start as early as mid March till the FO. That way, players can first finish all hard court tournaments and then come and play the clay ones, without having to change surfaces too frequently.
I love clay court tournaments, for such tournaments don't favor those big servers, big hitters that much and a player's tactics, techniques, skills and experience will be put to the test in order to win. I love good rallies too (I must emphasize only good rallies, not those tedious ones where players do not know when to end points) Also movements on clay is so beautiful to watch, provided of course the player can moves properly on clay. Hard courts always favor big servers & big hitters and chances of good rallies are fewer compared to clay. Grass is also good, except that I would like to see some serve and volley thrown in.
luckystar , 12/10/09 12:13 PM
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Yes that's a bad time to have clay tournaments. There's really no good time as after Miami the clay masters start in MC, Rome and Madrid. Clay is my least favorite surface in any case.
chr18 , 12/10/09 3:36 AM