ATP World Doubles C'ship still in crisis

JAKARTA (JP): The ATP Tour has yet to find a way-out of a financial deadlock that endangers the World Doubles Championship here in November, but it vows to save the season-ending tournament.

Russell Barlow, ATP Tour consultant for the championship, said on Monday that every possible step had been taken so far to hold the tournament as scheduled from Nov. 21 to Nov. 26.

"There are always difficulties, but it doesn't mean that I will leave them smashing our big business apart," Barlow said. "I'm here to get the tournament out of this situation."

Financial strain hit the US$1.3 million championship, the second successive event to be held here, after local TV station TPI broke its two-year broadcasting agreement with the ATP Tour late in July. Management of the private TV station made an about- face for what they called "an unfair sharing of losses" in the inaugural tournament last year.

The Indonesian tennis association initiated a helping hand by sending two letters to its chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and honorary chairman Moerdiono last month, asking them to intervene in the case.

Sarwono has indicated indifference to the endangered tournament, saying that he puts the national tennis development program above all. Moerdiono has yet to respond.

Russell said the ATP Tour chief executive officer, Mark Miles, also sent a letter to Moerdiono three weeks ago, but to no avail. Moerdiono was a key person involved in a series of negotiations with ATP Tour to bring the doubles championship to Jakarta.

"Both the ATP Tour board and doubles players have now rested their hopes on my shoulders," Russell said of his tour to the U.S. Open championships a few weeks ago.

ATP Tour had earlier given Russell until Sept. 5 to find a solution, otherwise they would move the tournament from Jakarta. They later changed their minds and let Russell continue his efforts.

The lucrative world doubles championship pits eight top teams in round-robin matches. The Swedish pair of Jonas Bjorkman and Jan Apell won the championship last year. (amd)