Sport - Tennis

Future of Chennai Open hangs in the balance

Chennai: With the contract between the Chennai Open organisers, consortium of sponsors and the IMG scheduled to end after the 2009 Chennai Open, IMG Advisor Ravi Krishnan was hopeful it would continue in the city.

IMG owns and runs the $450,000 ATP tennis tournament.

“We’ve had the tournament here for the last 13 years, and we love having it in Chennai. We’ve had great support from the TNTA, the government, the crowds and the sponsors over the years.

“If it happens in India, it will definitely remain in Chennai. We are working closely with the TNTA in making that happen. Our first preference would obviously be Chennai,” he told The Hindu.

“But we at IMG also have to make sure the tournament is commercially viable. We’re not there yet, but are involved in a dialogue process with the TNTA,” said Mr. Krishnan.

Two other countries have expressed interest in hosting the tournament, which would require the IMG to arrive at a quick decision. “It will take a lot of work to shift the tournament to another venue, so a decision will be made in the next two months,” he said.

The current global financial meltdown, he remarked, shouldn’t impact the tournament’s commercial viability. “I would advice people and sponsors to look at the tournament in the long-term, say five years. If that’s the case, then the recession shouldn’t have a big impact. “The commercial viability is the most important aspect of our discussions with the TNTA. Hopefully, Chennai should continue hosting the tournament,” he concluded. — Sports Reporter

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