From Alcaraz to Wawrinka, the stars praise the Argentine Open and now the goal is to be an ATP 500

When at the end of last year, the ATP announced that the three events that will go from 250 to 500 in 2025 will be Monaco, Doha and Dallas, putting an end to the dream of Argentina Openwho was excited for him “update”. The news hurt national tennis. Diego Schwartzmann He even described the decision as “terrible”. But beyond the disappointment, the organizers have decided to continue working to improve the conditions of the event – today, in the minor category – and to be ready if the opportunity arises again in the future.

The 2024 edition of the tournament, which ended with the consecration of Facundo Diaz Acostawas played in a Lawn tennis in Buenos Aires renewed, with a field of big names – three Slam champions, six top 30 and nine among the best 50 in the ranking – and that group of people that is a registered trademark of the events that take place in the country. And in the Palermo club the general comment is that the Buenos Aires ATP has all it takes to move up the category.

“Last year, the truth is I didn’t see it for a 500, but this year I did,” he said. Carlos Alcaraz, number two in the world, champion in 2023 and favorite on this occasion. “The facilities have improved a lot. The courts are very good. And the organization is very good. Also, people are very involved in tennis, they feel very involved and you can feel it. If this tournament became a 500, I wouldn’t do it don’t be surprised”

“If Alcaraz, who is number two in the world, says so… Who better than us can ask for it to be 500. This year the tournament has greatly improved the infrastructure. Furthermore, it is an event with a history of many years to which so many great players came in. “He deserves it,” he commented. Federico Coriaaccording to an opinion shared by all his compatriots.

The transformation that players praised was a work in which Tenniothe company that owns the competition, which also organizes those of Antwerp, Hamburg AND Barcelona, invested a million dollars. Most of the money was spent demolishing the club’s old changing rooms and rebuilding them, leaving the facility ready for a possible second-floor extension in the future.

This restructuring was requested by the ATP due to the “catalamorous” state of the facilities and obtained the approval of the association chaired by Andrea Gaudenzi. Although it was not a specific requirement in the framework of the fight for promotion.

Furthermore, the players’ dining room and gym and the VIP area have been expanded; the public toilets and television booth in the main stadium have been completed; and the entire perimeter concrete floor around that area was redone.

“I agree with Alcaraz, there has been a big change compared to last year,” he said. Cameron Norrie, 23rd in the rankings. “And the people… I was watching the match between Jarry and Wawrinka and the crowd was incredible. The courts are very beautiful. The tournament is fantastic and so is the city. It could definitely be an ATP 500.”

Stan Wawrinkawinner of three Grand Slam tournaments, he was one of the crowd’s favorites and received enormous support in the two matches he played, including the first, in which he faced the Córdoban player Pedro Cachin.

“The fans are among the best in the world. The people here love this sport in a special way. It’s a great tournament. I’ve never heard a player complain about anything. We feel welcome. Everything is impeccable,” said the Swiss. .

And Stan didn’t get to play with a full stadium, because in the first few days the stands were half empty. This was not surprising due to the high ticket prices, which attracted much criticism. Likewise, there were few empty seats on Thursday and Friday. And the semi-finals and final were played with a packed stadium and 5,862 people. In total, BALTC received 58,898 spectators during the event.

Chatting with Clarion, Martin Jaite, tournament director, acknowledged there had been a “really strong” increase and said he understood people’s anger. “But we were behind on prices and all our costs went up a lot too,” he clarified her.

Tickets for the final between Díaz Acosta and Chilean Jarry, for example, cost between 52 thousand and 275 thousand pesos (62 and 328 dollars). Too much for the pockets of Argentines, hit hard by the economic crisis, but not excessive for an international event of this level. To compare, in Rio ATP 500which is being played this week with a draw very similar to that of the Buenos Aires tournament (Alcaraz and Norrie are also the favourites), tickets for the final start at 135 and 151 dollars.

The success of this edition of the Argentina Open has renewed hopes for a recategorization. With the financial commitment secured by Tennium, the organization aims to continue improving the property to have everything ready if the opportunity opens up again.

What does the ATP require for a 500 in terms of infrastructure? In essence, three fields for playing matches and four for training (three of which must be at the host club). A main stadium for 7 thousand spectators – with the expansion of a tubular grandstand, in 2024 it would not reach 6 thousand – and a field two for a thousand, both with artificial lighting (they already have it). With a contract with BALTC until 2033 just signed, it is a challenge for the tournament to find a way to meet the capacity requirements on the club’s grounds.

Even in Tennium they know that when push comes to shove, being prepared doesn’t guarantee them anything.

The ATP opened the proceedings update last year with the idea of ​​reducing the number of 250 tournaments, freeing up calendar weeks and being able to promote the 500 and Masters 1000. And he promoted the idea of ​​a “merger” so that two 250s would be merged into 500. Tennium had entered into negotiations to collaborate Newport and fight for promotion. But at the last minute, Doha He presented an offer to the American tournament that the Spanish club could not match.

“Money has done everything. Today the Arab world has a portfolio with which it cannot compete,” Jaite said when Clarín consulted him on what they lacked to get elected. And he added: “We got out, but we didn’t say it ‘Uh, that’s all’. For us the 500 is not an obsession, it’s a goal. “We have to keep working to improve the tournament we have, so when another opportunity comes, they can choose us.”

With the commitment of the organization, the support of the fans and the support of the players, everyone at the Argentine Open is confident that promotion will come. Already said Horace Zeballos, after losing the doubles final to Marcel Granollers. “I won’t retire until it’s an ATP 500, so I’ll see you next year.”