Masters Series w Argentynie?

A Masters Series in Argentina?

The City of Buenos Aires is in advanced negociations to hold in 2010 one of the Masters Series tournaments, the most important after the Grand Slams. It was revealed by the subsecretary of sports of the City, Francisco Irarrázaval. The idea is supported by Ion Tiriac, former trainer of Guillermo Vilas and current promoter of Madrid AMS.

For 2009, the ATP has planned to modify the structure of the Tour. There won’t be any more tournaments of the Masters Series and they will from then on called 1000 Tournaments, given that they will give that amount of points to the winner.

Irarrázabal, former player of the Pumas, didn’t give details about the negotiations, although he insinuated that the tournament would not be played on clay, historically the favorite surface of Argentine players. By then, the stadium in Parque Roca will have a roof, and a hard court will be set, similar to the ones used in Madrid some weeks ago.
The reason for this decision is that Paris Bercy, the last tournament of the Masters Series, before the Shanghai Masters, will leave its place the next year. In that place would go in Buenos Aires.

“We are pretty advanced. Beyond our idea of bringing it, we have to understand that it’s a business and has to generate profit, which means involving an organizer with whom we are trying to close (the deal)”, Irarrázabal commented. “Although it is an objective, its not a priority, but we found out everything we need to know to make it a reality”.

Nowadays Buenos Aires hosts one of the 43 tournaments of the International Series, the lower status among the ones organized by the ATP, given that challengers and futures are not under it’s control. The Telmex Cup, directed by Martín Jaite, has a draw of 32 players and gives 466.000 dollars, with 175 points for the winner.