Gaudenzi’s South American Tour Signals Commitment to Region

Andrea Gaudenzi, Chairman of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), recently completed a tour of South America, marking his first visit to the region in a leadership capacity. Having previously competed in tournaments in Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Río Grande, and Santiago as a player, Gaudenzi’s trip underscores a renewed focus on the region’s importance to the ATP.

Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro: Key Stops and Observations

Gaudenzi’s itinerary included stops in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Buenos Aires, he was accompanied by his son, former player Pablo Andujar, and Eric Starelli, ATP Vice President of the Americas. He visited the Lawin Tennis club, observed the tournament’s growing public area, and attended the final match featuring Francisco Cerúndolo. A dinner with key figures in the tennis world, including Martín Hughes and Kristoff Puelinckx of Tennium, further highlighted the discussions surrounding the tour’s future.

Saudi Arabia Masters 1000 and the Need for South American Competitiveness

A key topic of discussion revolved around the upcoming Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia, slated for 2028. Gaudenzi promised to promote and make the South American tour competitive recognizing the need to protect the region’s tournaments amidst this expansion. The challenge lies in the scheduling conflicts with other powerful tournaments in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, all held on hard courts.

Tournament Upgrades and Surface Debate

Organizers of the Buenos Aires tournament are aiming for an ATP 500 upgrade. However, Rio de Janeiro currently holds a significant advantage, boasting a larger infrastructure, a prize pool of approximately 2.5 million dollars, and a record 55 sponsors in 2026. A central debate is whether to maintain the traditional clay court surface or transition to hard courts.

“There is an obstinacy on the part of the players not to lose tournaments on slow courts, which prevents a tournament from developing and becoming a better product for them.”

Luiz Carvalho, Director of the Rio tournament

The potential shift to hard courts is seen as a way to attract more players and improve economic viability, but faces resistance from traditionalists.

Player Representation and Concerns

A crack exists within the player locker room regarding these changes. Some players express concerns about a lack of South American representation on the ATP Board, and Council. One player stated, There is highly little representation from South America and the entire Board and the Council are very European and North American. We need to have more voice and speak more to be heard. This highlights a desire for greater influence in shaping the future of the tour.

FAQ

What is the main focus of Andrea Gaudenzi’s recent tour?

The main focus is assessing the future of the South American tour in light of the ATP’s expansion plans, including the new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia.

What is the proposed upgrade for the Buenos Aires tournament?

Organizers are aiming for an ATP 500 upgrade.

What is the debate surrounding the court surface?

There is a debate about whether to maintain the traditional clay court surface or transition to hard courts to attract more players and improve economic viability.