CHENNAI: With instability in key areas in and around the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), the body lost the long-term future of its flagship product, the Chennai Open.
And that is going to cost them in a big way as India’s only ATP World Tour event is all set to get a new address from 2018 – Mahahrashtra, most likely Pune. After a week of speculation, the move to shift the tournament seems to be have been finally worked out, according to multiple sources.
“I cannot go into specifics but it (the change of venues) is happening,” a source involved in matters related to developments told Express. IMG, who own the event, had been scouting for more than a few months in the hope of finding a new location to host the event.
They even got in touch with Karnataka State Lawn State Association (KSLTA) in the hope of hosting the event in Bengaluru but seem to have settled to host the event in Pune. Interestingly, IMG are yet to reach an agreement with the TNTA on how best to proceed with respect to severing of contract, which still has two years to run (a three-year contract was signed after the 2016 edition).
IMG initially looked at Singapore, which hosts the year-end WTA Finals, as a possible option but the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) entered the fray to keep the event in India. That feeling was also backed by the State goverment, headed by Devendra Fadnavis.
While a verbal agreement has been reached with MSLTA, IMG, Express has learnt, are yet to formally sign on the dotted line. But that is scheduled to happen within the week. “Most of the things are settled and the contract could be signed anytime now,” another source said. The ATP, meanwhile, have steadfastly refused to confirm or deny any such move. “Any agreement regarding a relocation of an ATP tournament requires approval by the ATP Board,” Simon Higson, vice president of Corporate Communications and PR, told this newspaper. “Until such time, we have no further comment to make.”
It is important to note that while IMG has every right in the world to shift the tournament anywhere, it will have to be ratified by the ATP Board of Directors.
The TNTA, who have been hosting the event for two decades (1997), are planning to release an official statement on the matter on Thursday. It’s believed that the TNTA have not been able to meet the commercial demands and that’s one of the main reasons behind IMG taking away one of the city’s iconic features.
swaroop@newindianexpress.com