Facing New Challenges

Catalina Fillol, director of the Chile Open, acknowledges the increasing difficulty of competing with new events, particularly the recently announced Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia. The emergence of such a high-profile event presents a substantial challenge to the established South American swing, which includes the Argentina Open and the Rio Open.

Willingness to Adapt

Fillol emphasized the tournament’s commitment to maintaining an ATP 250 event in Chile. What I’m saying is that we, as an organization, will do everything necessary to maintain an ATP 250 in the country. And if we have to adapt, whether due to the calendar or the surface, we are willing to do it. There is no way around it other than that, she stated in a recent podcast interview.

This willingness to adapt extends to considering changes in both the tournament’s scheduling and playing surface.

Surface Change Considerations

The possibility of switching from clay to hard courts is being seriously evaluated. Fillol noted that many players are hesitant to participate in clay court tournaments in South America, stating that When I talk to players about the tournament, as soon as I mention it’s on clay, they shut the door. You don’t even get to make them a formal proposal. A shift to hard courts could potentially attract a higher caliber of players.

Yet, Fillol also recognizes the importance of a unified approach. The logic, for me, has more to do with the swing of the calendar itself. That is, if Buenos Aires, Rio and Santiago agree to change to November, fine. But if we agree to keep the date and change the surface, well, let’s row like that. But it has to be something joint and enhanced between the three tournaments.

A Family Legacy

Fillol’s leadership of the Chile Open is deeply rooted in her family’s history with the sport. As the daughter of Jaime Fillol, a legend in Chilean tennis and a founder of the ATP, she feels a strong sense of pride and responsibility. I experience “super proud to be associated” with my father’s name, “who has set the bar very high for me, in the sense of the affection and respect that people have for him.” She acknowledges the weight of that legacy but embraces the challenge of continuing her father’s work.

Financial Realities

Fillol also addressed the financial challenges facing South American tournaments. There is no pocket that can hold it! And much less with the budgets that we have in South America, she remarked, referring to the financial demands of competing with events like the Saudi Masters 1000. The Chile Open’s valuation is currently $3.8 million, with $700,000 allocated to prize money.

Looking Ahead

Despite the obstacles, Fillol remains optimistic about the future of tennis in South America. She believes that by demonstrating continued growth and attracting enthusiastic crowds, the region can maintain its place on the global tennis stage. I have a lot of faith in this Tour, we have to continue showing that here tennis is lived with a lot of energy and a lot of passion, she concluded.