2021 events and survival
Like all sports, tennis too is in survival mode. We live in a pandemic strangled planet; thinking twice to leave our homestead and even more to attend sporting events is the reality of our times.
In a sense of the game, WTA and ATP are the responsible institutions to exhibit tennis at its best. So far this year, together they have worked out 29 of the 41 events of the calendar scheduled. All under the umbrella of the pandemic restrictions and tournament localities permitted regulations. Many countries discourage non-nationals entering their territory. It made all events worked out lean in elite player presence. From players point, quarantine is expensive with time loss there is also the high risk during travel.
Events cost issue
For the organisers of events, their sources of income are the sponsors, donors and gate collection. They are not lucrative as pre-pandemic times. Their recurring expenses will include year round remuneration of the managerial staff and facility maintenance, promotional activities, operational cost of events plus many unavoidable unknowns. As good deal of national prestige and income arises from major events to nations, some nations contribute into major tennis events. These, do not reach the public domain unless issues prop up. In short, events are not simple nor easy to grasp and to conduct.
In the terms of the professional player income, both the professional bodies must be standing their grounds for good prize money availability to players even in the pandemic times. Today prize money is high as US$ 75 million in a major event. Premium quality event are round the year work, often begins good few years before the event; Wimbledon tickets come out somewhat three years ahead.
Even with lockdown, we are bound to have some events in the European season, which is in front of us. European tennis is the live wire for the global popularity of the game. In Europe, the pandemic has been recurring as the world has difficulties to find and administer eight billion vaccines. Some vaccine require double doses for effectiveness, making their requirement to be sixteen billion and recurring every six month. Events will be under these clouds this year and not know when it will clear up.
Asian Karatsev
Karatsev, a Russian, in February as qualifier came to the semi-finals of Australian Open of 2021, again as the wild card entry has won the Dubai Open last week. He has an ‘impressive game’. Plays an all court sustainable game and has all the attributes required to be in the top five of the world. Karatsev on his way to win Dubai Open beat the well-known compatriot Rublev of the Russian-cluster. His opponent in the final of Dubai was as surprising as he was Lloyd Harris of South Africa. Harris came through qualifying rounds and his match against Karatsev in the final was his seventh match in six days. Harris is very much of a Kevin Anderson mould in playing the game.
In Dubai, Mugurusa of Spain found her form to win the women’s title. She came past the wonder-kid of Poland Iga Swiatek and third seed Sabalenka and beat Krejcikova in the final. Critics hailed Dubai event was icebreaker in the pandemic threatened world.
Acapulco, Buenos Aires
Summer of South America hosted events in Mexico and Argentina. Zevrev wore the Mexican hat winning the event in a comeback game against Tisitsipas. In the early part of their first set Zevrev’s power did not find the winning consistency supporting his game. He was down 1/4 in the first set, he then made his game simpler, meaning holding out rallies than hitting winners. It made his power game reappear in full force. Tsitsipas is not a player be taken lightly. He is on his upbeat trend. Very likely Tsitsipas will hold the top position in tennis. He is one of the few players with a win over Djokovic and Nadal.
In Argentina, two natives played the final. Schwarzman won the title beating Fernando Cerundolo. In February, Cerundolo won the title in Seville, Spain. South America is clay court domain. They have tennis tradition starting from the angelic women player Maria Bueno, Sabatini through Villas, Nalbandian, Clerc and Del Potro. They too worked out their events with all the health restrictions in place.
Locally in Colombo and in the outstations staged tennis and sporting events. It is still in slower momentum but very encouraging.
Indian Cluster
There is a cluster of Indian tennis player at present. Nagal, Gunneswaran, Ramanathan, Devvaraman and Bhambri are in 100 plus in the world ranking. Some have featured in the third round of a Grand Slam. One of them commented India to be cricket country Europe/South America are football countries and Japan is Sumo and baseball country, being so, Indian cluster is stationed and work in host countries like Spain and others. The arrangement provides advantage to host countries financially and strengthening their player base for practice and participation.
For our players living in Sri Lanka, the second string of Indian cluster living in India should be the target. If our players reach that level, it will provide the springboard into ATP and WTA entry-level events. These should be also our immediate goal in interacting with the Indian resident cluster.
—George Paldano, Former international player; Accredited Coach of German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka, coached ATP, WTA and ITF top 200 ranked players, Davis-Cup, Federation-Cup coach. — geodano2015@gmail.com