Money the reason for reducing stars?

This edition of the Chennai Open is its 22nd. In fact, the organisers market it as the ‘country’s longest-running international sporting event’, and ‘South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event’.
Yuki Bhambri IND in action against Ramkumar Ramanathan IND during their first round match for the ATP Chennai Open 2017 at SDAT Tennis Stadium in Tuesday.(Photo | PTI)
Yuki Bhambri IND in action against Ramkumar Ramanathan IND during their first round match for the ATP Chennai Open 2017 at SDAT Tennis Stadium in Tuesday.(Photo | PTI)

CHENNAI: This edition of the Chennai Open is its 22nd. In fact, the organisers market it as the ‘country’s longest-running international sporting event’, and ‘South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event’. It has unearthed Grand Slam winners like Thomas Johansson, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic.
But year after year, it seems the star power is diminishing. One Cilic is hardly a suitable substitute for the likes of Boris Becker, Pat Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moya and other crowd-pullers.
Interestingly, 11 among the current top 20 have been to Chennai at least once. Why didn’t more than two of those return?

Occam’s Razor states the simplest answer is often the right one, so, are Doha, Brisbane and Perth (Hopman Cup) to blame for the ‘exodus’? While Chennai sits second in terms of prize money, the remaining three offer a lot more as appearance fees.
It’s understandable considering the Gulf is rolling in oil money (giving the ‘Dough-a’ moniker great relevance) and Tennis Australia owns the other two as part of its Australian Open Series group of tournaments.

“The event does what it can to improve. The stadium underwent renovation last year. This year, there are a couple of new additions at least – a new scoreboard and electronic advertising around the court. But at the end of the day, appearance money trumps all,” a source in the know told Express on Tuesday.
Normally, that’s not something players say out loud. Their responses are predictably tailored to suit the environment they’re in. “Here, conditions are really tough. There’s lots of humidity that helps prepare for the Australian Open. It’s one reason I come here,” World No 14 Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut’s answer was about as politically correct as possible.

Jonathan Erlich, a 39-year-old doubles veteran who has appeared in all three season opening tournaments, toed a similar line: “They’re all special in their own way. I wouldn’t rank one over the other.”
But there are a few who’re willing to call a spade a spade. Jurgen Melzer, ranked in the top 10 in both singles and doubles at one time, had an interesting response. “The draw has Cilic and Agut. It’s not easy to get other top players if you’re not loaded with money,” Melzer opined.

rohan@newindianexpress.com

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com