World doubles finals offer more amusement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ATP Tour is considering adding entertainment
\nto the world doubles finals program here in November in a bid to
\nattract a better turn-out.<\/p>\n
Steve Casey, ATP Tour communications director, said on Tuesday
\nthat organizers had learned a lot from Super 9 tournaments in
\nEurope which had been successful in luring more spectators to
\ntennis events in the past season.<\/p>\n
\"It's our new strategy to draw families to the stadium. We
\nwant them to have a real day out and bring home a great memory
\nabout tennis,\" Casey said.<\/p>\n
The Super 9 tournaments, the biggest apart from Grand Slams,
\nprovide the spectators with amusement programs outside the court
\nand let them interview the winning players after matches.<\/p>\n
Casey, however, refused to go into detail about the
\nentertainment package which will be brought in for the Nov. 22-26
\nWorld Doubles finals here. Nor would he confirm whether the
\nentertainment program during the season-ending tournament would
\nbe a carbon-copy of that in Europe.<\/p>\n
\"I do believe that the tournament will be better this year,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that last year was \"a bad year\" for the world
\ndoubles championships. \"It was the first time the tournament was
\nheld in Jakarta,\" he argued. \"Jakarta is still in the learning
\ncurve.\"<\/p>\n
Only a few spectators turned out to watch the matches at the
\nSenayan indoor tennis stadium last year. Many tennis observers
\nblamed the organizers for not promoting such a world-class
\ntournament enough. Only eight best pairs are eligible to play in
\nthe finals.<\/p>\n
The ATP Tour moved the tournament from Johannesburg to Jakarta
\nfor two successive years, but it may bid to extend the contract
\nfor another three-year term. Johannesburg played host to the
\nyear-end championship for five years in a row.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta has the chance to win another three-year term. It is
\na thriving city with a booming economy,\" Casey said.<\/p>\n
The ATP Tour, the organization which unites professional men's
\ntennis players throughout the world, sanctions 10 tournaments in
\nAsia Pacific a year. A total of 85 tournaments in 38 countries
\nare sanctioned by the association.<\/p>\n
The year-end championship for singles players remains in
\nFrankfurt, Germany. (amd)<\/p>",
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