ATP 500 event may experience changes as audiences grow and highlight of new generation of Brazilian athletes
Closed this Sunday, the Open Rio it is the only ATP 500 tournament in Brazil and intends to take even bigger steps towards the development of the event. For nine days, thousands of fans of the sport flocked to the Jockey Club for men’s singles and doubles matches. However, for 2024, changes and novelties can be made, such as the return of WTA competition – women’s mode -.
The director of the event, Lui Carvalho, highlighted the plans for the tenth edition of the competition in Rio de Janeiro. He also said he dreams of the return of Rafael Nadal, the greatest Grand Slam winner in the history of the sport, who played in the tournament in the first three editions.
– My dream is to have Nadal back to celebrate ten years (from the event). It’s a dream, there’s no conversation with the agent, he doesn’t even talk about the calendar for 2024, I guess he’s heading towards the end of his career, but he’s still playing. Indeed it would be a dream, Alcaraz is the new generation and he is the old generation, as well as having contributed a lot to the development of the Rio Open – he commented.
Nadal won the first edition of the competition, held in 2014. In 2015 and 2016 he lost in the semifinals and didn’t keep the trophy. However, despite the relationship with Rio de Janeiro and the organizers, the Spanish tennis player lives with physical problems that can make it difficult to return to the tournament.
Coincidentally, the years Nadal competed in the competition were also marked by the performances of female tennis players in the women’s singles and doubles categories. Now, with the rise of athletes such as Bia Haddad, now 12th in the WTA singles rankings, and Luisa Stefani, Australian Open mixed doubles champion alongside Rafael Matos, the tournament aims to bring more matches to fans.
– There has been talk for some time about the project to bring back the feminine. We need to find a date and enter it in the calendar. We want to take advantage of this moment, we just have to find a date and not disturb the product, put it in the Brazilian calendar.
The event, however, would not be at the Jockey Club. Located in Gávea, the space has nine clay courts, including the Guga Kuerten Arena, with a capacity of 6,200 fans. However, the internal logistics would not be able to host another major tournament.
– It has nothing to do with it. It’s not just a question of changing rooms, the player’s room, but a question of pitches, we don’t have enough. I hope we can fix it,” she added.
The overall scenario of the event was a success. Fans attended sponsor booths, received gifts, and had different food options. Furthermore, the view contributed to the beauty of the tournament, located in Gávea, with the presence of Christ the Redeemer behind the Main Court.
However, the prices were high: Decision tickets, for example, ranged between R $ 295 and R $ 800, depending on the sector of the Arena. The opening of the tournament was marked by cheaper average tickets, with price increases over the days.
The Rio Open is expected to hold its tenth edition in 2024. With negotiations to renew the partnership, the event will continue at the Jockey Club, home of the current edition. Dates have not yet been confirmed.
This Sunday, take turns Cameron Norrie defeated Carlos Alcaraz for 2 sets to 1 and secured his first trophy of the tournament. Last Saturday, moreover, the Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni beat Brazilian Marcelo Melo and Colombian Juan Cabál with the score 2 to 0. At the age of 39, Melo tried to become the first Brazilian champion of the competition, but came out as runners-up.
Source: Terra
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