Andy Murray launched a special idea on
over the weekend
: that the South American clay court tour, formed today by the ATP 250 in Córdoba, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile and the 500 in Rio de Janeiro, has its own Masters 1000 And his proposal, far from being lost in the immense world of social networks, generated a great movement in the field of tennis.
The Scot's words were supported by many Argentines and South Americans and also by a couple of racket heavyweights.
“Unpopular opinion:
South America should have its tour with its own Masters 1000.
”
The way the fans support the tournaments there is incredible.
Incredible environments and tennis is clearly part of their culture.
Let's go ATP!" wrote the former number 1 and winner of three Grand Slams.
“Why unpopular!?
You are absolutely right, Andy,” responded the German
Boris Becker
with conviction .
"Tennis should go to countries/continents where it is booming...", concluded who also knew how to occupy the first step of the ranking and won six
Majors
.
Why unpopular?!?
You're absolutely right about your opinion Andy!
Tennis 🎾 should go to countries/continents where tennis is booming… https://t.co/27BbNbesdM
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) February 24, 2024
John Isner
, who experienced first-hand the warmth of South American fans a few years ago, also aligned himself behind the Briton's proposal.
“A Masters in South America would create a crazy atmosphere
,” said the American, who played in 2016 in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
That year at the Buenos Aires tournament, he took a
selfie
with several Argentine juniors, including
Sebastián Báez
and
Mariano Navone
, champion and finalist of the Rio tournament last week, and
Thiago Tirante
, brand new Argentine top 100.
Journalist
Marcos Zugasti
reposted the photo after Isner's support for Murray's tweet.
And the image reached the American, who: “That's incredible.”
No way 😁 that's awesome!
— John Isner (@JohnIsner) February 25, 2024
In these latitudes there were several voices that applauded the British proposal, from
Javier Frana
, through
Diego Schwartzman
,
Federico Coria
and
Federico Delbonis
, to the Brazilian
Fernando Meligeni
and the Bolivian
Hugo Dellien
.
“
Let the ATP know this, Andy!
Every year they give us less support.
Not only because of how the fans support the tournaments, but also how many players we have and those we had at the top.
We deserve more than this from the ATP.
“Thank you for your words!” said
Peque
.
Is it possible to think about the South American tour with a Masters 1000?
Regardless of Murray's desire, it seems unlikely, at least in the short term.
First, for a surface issue, which would be the biggest obstacle to making it a reality (if one day the ATP decides to try it).
Let @atptour know this Andy!
Every year they put us less support.
Not just because of how the fans support the tournaments.
Also how many players we have and we had on the top as you know.
We deserve more than this from atp.
Thanks for your words!
🙌❤️🎾 https://t.co/Ub4fnzFbdv
— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) February 24, 2024
Holding a Masters 1000 (mandatory category for the top) on clay in February would force the players to change from the cement of the Australian tour that opens each season to the slow courts of South America, to then return to the hard ones for
Indian Wells
and
Miami
.
A solution, very popular among network users, would be to advance the American Masters to February, to give continuity to the competition on cement, and move the powder events to March, as a prelude to those that have been played since April in this type of courts in preparation for
Roland Garros
.
Although that would imply a historic - and too big - change in the calendar.
But also, none of the four cities that host the
Golden Swing
seem ready to host an event of that level in the near future, the second in importance behind a Grand Slam.
It is enough to review the infrastructure requirements - a central court for 10 thousand spectators, a second stage for three thousand and one more for a thousand, for example - to see that it would be a difficult task to accomplish for any of those four tournaments.
Great Andy!
We are waiting for you at the @ArgentinaOpen and at @RiverPlate!
https://t.co/Jopx8YsRM4
— fede coria (@fedeecoria) February 24, 2024
Córdoba
and
Santiago
today are more concerned with confirming their continuity than with dreaming of promotion.
Buenos Aires
- which usually calls up big international stars (this year,
Carlos Alcaraz
,
Cameron Norrie
and
Stan Wawrinka
, among others) - continues to aim to become a 500 and recently signed a contract until 2033 with
BALTC
, a club in which Due to space, it could not grow enough to host a Masters 1000. Perhaps Rio could aim for that category, which could also help the Buenos Aires tournament raise its own.
It will be necessary to see if, if the opportunity arises, you have the financial commitment and the desire to do it.
In any case, there are no (nor have there been lately) indications that the ATP wants to add a new Masters 1000, especially at a time when that association is seeking to reduce the number of events on the calendar so as not to saturate the players with competition. .
What's more, a few months ago reports began to circulate that Saudi Arabia was aiming to hold a tournament of that level, but there was talk that to do so it would have to "steal" the license from some of the nine already existing.
Murray's idea caught on.
From Schwartzman to Becker they celebrated the proposal.
But the reality of the circuit suggests that, at least for now, a dusty Masters 1000 in South America is a utopia.