After the brilliant ATP of Buenos Aires and Rio,
Andy Murray
detonated a bomb that created an atmosphere of euphoria in the world of tennis that is lived with passion on this side of the world: “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!"
However, a week later, from the other side of the Andes Mountains came a slap that, perhaps, will bring us back to reality.
The fourth tournament of the South American tour showed a very big contrast with the first three: "
This court is a shame
," was heard in Chile, indignant with the state of the court at the ATP 250 in Santiago.
"The ball doesn't hit. This isn't tennis," they say.
And it's literal.
The almost surreal situation was seen in the match between the Spanish Roberto Carballés Baena and the Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
The Iberian served 30-40, the Frenchman returned and the ball did not hit, as if it fell in a muddy pasture.
Video
The state of the court at the ATP 250 in Santiago.
Visibly upset, the one born in Tenerife 30 years ago complained to the ATP supervisor and asked for a change of court, but had no luck.
After his defeat against the Frenchman, the Spaniard found no words to describe the situation: "What do you want me to tell you: that the tournament is shit? That you can't play on this court...".
“It seems a shame to me that an ATP is played on this court, it is dangerous for the players.
I hope this tournament is not held again
.
That's not tennis, in the end it becomes the raffle.
You are constantly afraid of getting injured, and on top of that, you have bounces that the ball doesn't bounce at all.
I felt like I could get injured, because every time I was forced, I was afraid to squeeze my leg because it would sink.”
With the victory in the bag, the 140th-ranked Frenchman was more "polite": “It's not the best court in the world, but I come from playing futures.
I remember when I started tennis, the courts were much worse, without new balls.
Here the conditions are good.
I'm honest: it's not the best court, but it's the same for both players, and we have to do our best."
The situation is so evident that not even the Chileans themselves can defend their tournament: "I don't like to say it, but I think it is the worst court I have played on at the ATP level. With the Court in this state, anyone can win," he accepted. Cristian Garín.
Beyond his defeat, Roberto Carballés Baena pointed out the possibility of getting injured due to the state of the track.
And the image of the Brazilian Joao Fonseca is eloquent.
When he met Thiago Tirante, the Rio native who was invited to the ATP in Santiago for his good performance in Rio, he got his ankle stuck and did an involuntary twist.
When he stood up, he angrily kicked the relief causing him to roll in the brick dust.