Brazil Open to be shifted to Sao Paulo from Costa do Sauipe – Tennis News
Brazil Open was contested in Costa do Sauipe for the past 11 years but it is scheduled to be played in Sao Paulo next year. According to the officials, next year Brazil Open will be contested in Complexo Desportivo Constâncio Vaz Guimarães and it will start
from 11th February and continue until 19th February 2012.
The tournament was contested in open air but due to chilly weather condition and humid atmosphere of Sao Paulo, it is decided that this tournament will be played indoor. Most of the matches and especially the major ones would be contested in Ibirapuera Gymnasium
whereas some of the matches are scheduled to be played at Mauro Pinheiro Gymnasium as well.
Geraldo Alckmin, the Governer of Sao Paulo said “Bringing the Brazil Open to Sao Paulo is an important initiative of the city, the world´s third largest city”. Sao Paulo is famous worldwide for hosting racing events like Formula1, road running races and
Formula Indy and now it’s time for tennis fanatics to make their way to the grounds for some action-packed contests.
The partnership between Koch Tavares' with Sao Paulo’s state government and City Hall has proved beneficial and sets the new landmark in the history of Brazil Open. The opening ceremony featured some of the showstoppers from the world of tennis including
the local idol Gustavo Kuerten, world No. 2 Rafael Nadal and other famous tennis stars like Davydenko, Carlos Moya, Magnus Norman, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Nicolas Almagro and Thomaz Bellucci. Koch Tavares' CEO and tournament director, Luis Felipe Tavares, said
“Costa do Sauipe played an important role in the devolvement of Brazilian tennis”.
The tradition of at-least incorporating four former world number 1 players in the tournament will be maintained and infrastructure for tennis and other sports would be developed in similar fashion as Costa do Sauipe. This is a strategic decision taken by
the tournament officials as Sao Paulo will help grow the overall coverage and fan following for the tournament.
It is expected that Brazil Open will grow at a rapid pace with a greater viewership. Gillette, State Govern and City Hall have provided the tournament director with a feasibility report that ensures the success of the tournament and relatively better turnover
than Costa do Sauipe.
ATP Challenger tour finals will also be contested in Ibirapuera Gymnasium, Sao Paulo, from 16th to 20th November. It will feature the top seven performers of the ATP Challenger tour and one local hero, Brazilian No. 1 Thomaz Bellucci,
will enter the tournament with a wildcard entry.
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