ATP Tour world doubles tourney in jeopardy

JAKARTA (JP): The ATP Tour will pull out of the World Doubles Championship of Indonesia after losing their local TV sponsor, dealing a heavy blow to the country's tennis professionals.

ATP's consultant for the season-ending tournament Russell Barlow said yesterday that local station TPI (Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia) would not televise the event due to financial reasons, shattering its two-year contract with the governing body for men's tennis professionals.

"This is indeed very unfortunate as the announcement came at literally the eleventh hour in preparing for the championship," Barlow complained. ATP Tour was informed about TPI's decision to break the contract at the end of July, according to Barlow.

ATP Tour and TPI signed a two-year broadcasting deal worth US$1.75 million per annum in February last year for the year-end tournament which pits eight top teams. Jakarta was named the host for the event in place of Johannesburg due to political changes in South Africa.

The championship this year is slated for Nov. 21 to 26 at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium, with the organizers planning to broadcast live coverage to the U.S., Europe, Australia and much of Asia.

TPI officials could not be reached for confirmation.

The case was the first to hit the ATP Tour since the establishment of the tournament in 1970, then known as the Masters.

Barlow said ATP will have to find another local television partner by Sept. 5, otherwise "we will be forced to move to another country, perhaps in Southeast Asia."

Barlow said he would call a special meeting with the ATP Tour during the U.S. Open championships to find a solution to the case. "I will also talk to the players about what has happened here," he added.

He made it clear, however, that he would prefer holding the tournament in this country, noting that the ATP has spent half a year of preparations.

"The ATP Tour certainly wishes to avoid any embarrassment from the cancellation of such an important tennis tournament," Barlow said.

Barlow admitted earlier that the organizers suffered a bad year when they brought the tournament here last year. Only few people turned out to watch the five-day competition, which was won by Swedish pair Jonas Bjorkman and Jan Apell.

TPI claimed last year that 700 million people from 80 countries would have watched the year-end tournament on 40 TV stations overseas.

The Indonesian tennis association (Pelti) has kept its cool over the issue. "There will be a way out. I won't think about moving this tournament that fast," Eddy Katimansah of Pelti said.

Eddy, who was the tournament director of last year's edition of the championship, said top-level talks might be necessary.

Eddy indicated that Pelti will consult with its chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and national tennis figure Moerdiono as soon as possible. (amd)