The ATP has confirmed that Shanghai will host a major men's and
women's combined tournament in 2009. This move follows the
controversial decision to move Shanghai Tennis Masters Cup back to
Europe.
Brad Drewett, chief executive officer of the ATP International
Group, said the idea was officially approved and the negotiations
with Shanghai organizers were already underway.
"We would ideally like to have one in China, I mean, a combined
event bigger than the Masters Cup, probably like the Miami and
Indian Wells Masters Series in the United States," said Drewett in
an exclusive interview with China Daily in Shanghai.
"Now it's on the top of our agenda. The Masters Cup this year is
the best one I've ever seen. I was really amazed by the knowledge
of Chinese tennis fans here, they really know the game and also the
players. Not only the top 10 players, I think they know even some
of the top 50 players perfectly and I am also grateful with the
efforts that our partners paid to the tournament over years."
Drewett added.
"The market has shown great appetite clearly and that's the
reason why we want to give China a heavyweight event that would not
be removed for quite a long time," he concluded.
Shanghai is contracted to host the tournament for another two
years with an option for another year before the ATP takes it back
to Europe.
According to Drewett, four combined events will be held by ATP
and WTA around the world in 2009, two in the United States, one in
Europe and the other in Asia. The head of men's tennis made it
clear - Shanghai is his firm favourite to host the Asian event.
"There is no doubt that Shanghai has incredible venues and fans.
The changes I have seen over the past four years is very, very
encouraging," said Drewett. "There are some other candidates in
Asia bidding for the host, but I can tell you Shanghai will be our
first choice."
The olive branch extended by ATP delighted Chinese organizers,
who believe the upcoming combined event will lift the sport to an
unprecedented level in Shanghai.
"To have our own Masters Series is the top target," said Jiang
Lan, general-secretary of the Masters Cup organizing committee.
"A true local event of the city will bring tennis to another
level. We aimed at this target even a couple of years ago because
Masters Cup would be fixed in only one city, it travels a lot, so
we want a real local event which is able to serve our fans and
sponsors forever.
The deadline for ATP's decision is next March with the bidding
time for such competition opening in December.
"We are ready for the official bid to that event at the end of
this year. If we are able to win the host, we would not take the
option to hold the last Masters Cup in 2009," he said.
"Personally, I want to see the combined events as soon as
possible, I know it's not a sure bet yet but I am 100 percent
confident."
Shanghai staged its first international tennis tournament, the
Heineken Open, in 1997 and poured in US$2 million to build the
Qizhong Tennis Center in 2001.
The developments have helped boost public participation in the
sport. Shanghai Sports Bureau released a paper saying 540,000
people have play tennis at least once in Shanghai, compared to only
10,000 ten years ago.
Over 100,000 spectators watched matches at the stadium this year
and both the Masters semis and finals, as well as a match between
Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, attracted 90 percent of attendance.
Attendance at the first Heineken Open barely touched 40 people
showing the lightning progress the city has made in raising the
sport's awareness among the population.
However, ATP said work yet remains for the city to reach the
standard of Masters Series holder.
"A couple of matters need to be strengthened here in terms of
having a top-level, combined event," said Drewett.
"I think they need a bigger managing stuff as there will be
approximately 200 players at the Masters Series, not only eight.
And the stadium needs some adjustment for staging outdoor
events.
"But I know it's just a matter of time. For Shanghai, three
years will be fully enough."
(China Daily November 21, 2006)