ATP rebukes Indonesia for unsatisfactory turnout
ATP rebukes Indonesia for unsatisfactory turnout
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia may be penalized by the Association of Tennis Professionals for the poor turnout at the Indonesia Open men's tournament here last January.
Eddy Katimansah, director of Adinawa Eka, the financial underwriter for the US$300,000 event, said yesterday that the ATP would decide if Indonesia's would continue to stage the annual championships during a tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida at the end of this month.
"The punitive measure will range from a fine to cancellation of the tournament, but we have the right to appeal," Eddy said. The world men's tennis association may fine Indonesia US$50,000, or suspend the tournament for up to two years or, at worst, cancel it.
Indonesia has played host to the men's tournament since 1991. The staging right costs $1.5 million. Michael Chang, who played here for $250,000 appearance money, won the first two championships.
The ATP requires tournament organizers to fill at least two- thirds of the stadium's capacity. The Indonesia Open this year managed to attract less than 7,000 people, not even half the minimum target of 18,000.
Eddy said only 500 people attended each day for the first four days. The number jumped to 2,000 for the semifinals and finals when the organizers distributed thousands of free tickets in a vain attempt to fill the 3,500-seat Senayan Indoor tennis stadium.
A shabby turnout also forced local TV station TPI to break its two-year contract with the organizers of the ATP Tour World Doubles Championships here last year. The ATP moved the $1.3 million event to Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
The ATP decided to drop the Indonesian Men's Challenger last year because poor management failed to bring in an adequate number of spectators.
The ATP's warning came on Feb. 21 and needed a reply within two days, but Eddy said he postponed his response due to Idul Fitri celebration. He answered today, 16 days late.
Eddy's rebuttal is that watching tennis has yet to become popular here.
"Everybody here prefers playing to watching," Eddy insisted.
He denied that a lack of stars was to blame for the poor showing.
"When Chang made his second trip here, the number of spectators dropped drastically," Eddy said.
Eddy said the organizers decided not to offer Chang his enormous appearance money for a third showing.
"The price was too much. It would be more beneficial to spend it on grooming our local talent," Eddy said.
He added that the Indonesian Women's Open does not suffer from a lack of spectators mainly because of Indonesia's tennis queen Yayuk Basuki. She won the first three women's championships from 1992 to 1994.
Eddy, who is also a senior official of the Indonesian Tennis Association, asked, "What has the ATP done here so far?" He then reminded the world men's tennis body of its unceasing campaign to boost the sport.
"They will be proven not eager to develop tennis here if they go on with their punitive measure," he said. (amd)