The Impact of Domestic Tournaments on the Development of Tennis in Argentina

Every time they have the opportunity to do so, athletes express that “there is nothing like playing at home,” and tennis is no exception to the rule. Tennis players who must travel alone around the world, and assuming very high economic costs to be able to develop professionally in their discipline, when they have the possibility of competition “on this side of the world” take advantage of the situation.

And this, for example, is demonstrated by Argentine women’s tennis, which, thanks to competition in the region, in 2023 once again had five women among the best 200 in the WTA ranking, something that had not happened for 15 years. What’s more, five years ago there were none in the top 200.

Regarding men, Argentina is the third country in the world in number of players among the top 150 of the ATP ranking with 12, behind France (17) and the United States (16). In 2023, tennis players from our country won five ATP titles and 21 Challengers (second country with the most champions behind France).

Mariano Navone, born in the Buenos Aires city of 9 de Julio, won five tournaments in the Challengers category. In the photo, with the Buenos Aires Challenger trophy. (@ChallengerBA)

Of course, the tournaments that are played in the country give our tennis players filming without “the obligation” to move to Europe for the entire season, with large outlays of money.

In 2023, Argentina had 39 international tournaments, 18 more than in 2018 (in 2020 there was no competition as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic). The breakdown is as follows: 12 ITF PRO Women (four in 2018), 10 ITF PRO men (9), eight ITF Junior (6), six Challengers (1), two ATP 250 (1) and one WTA 125 (started be played in 2021).

Sebastián Báez celebrated at the fifth edition of the Córdoba Open. He defeated Federico Coria in the final. (Córdoba Open Press)

The present of women’s tennis is not coincidental

At the beginning of this new year, Julia Riera confirmed her very good performance in 2023 (she won WTA matches, Billie Jean King Cup matches and won two bronzes at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games) and advanced from qualifying to the round of 16. final of the WTA 500 in Brisbane. In addition, in the Australian tournament she won her first match in a tournament of this category.

Like so many other Argentine tennis players, the 21-year-old from Pergamin had her financial limitations to develop on the path to professionalism. Even in an interview conducted by La Nación last year, she confessed that she considered not continuing to play tennis. But, in recent times, from the AAT she has been working to add tournaments that allow “paving the way” for the players.

The present of women’s tennis in Argentina goes hand in hand with the number of tournaments that are held in the country to accompany the development of the discipline. (AAT Press)

“The goal is to provide opportunities for good competition to as many players as possible, not to finance individual careers. This is something very important to understand. With these 14 women’s tournaments, for example, in addition to all the direct entries for Argentine players, more than 80 wild cards are generated (between the main draw and qualy), which most of the time go to juniors who do not yet have enough ranking to enter the boxes directly. That is supporting them in their insertion into professionalism, avoiding expensive tours abroad,” Agustín Calleri, president of the Argentine Tennis Association, told Mundo D.

And he continued: “And speaking of juniors, since last year we have had eight international tournament dates on the calendar, compared to the five that were historically organized in the country. We are working at all levels to generate progressive development, in accordance with the age and potential of each player. And the impact is fabulous not only because of the contagion effect it generates, but also because a young woman who is thinking about dedicating herself to tennis today knows that she has a solid foundation to take her first steps.”

Currently, 32 Argentine players are part of the WTA ranking, double the number 15 months ago, with an average age of 21 years. Half are Under-19; In addition, Argentina is the only country with three U-15 tennis players with a WTA ranking: Candela Vázquez (909), Sol Larraya Guidi (910) and Josefina Estévez (1026). And this present of women’s tennis seems to have a close relationship with the competition generated in the country.

The present of women’s tennis in Argentina goes hand in hand with the number of tournaments that are held in the country to accompany the development of the discipline. (AAT Press)

In this regard, the former tennis player from Córdoba and current head of the AAT, indicated: “Yes, there is a close relationship, to the point that last year, with the exception of Nadia Podoroska, all the girls who are today in the top 200 played these skills and grew in the ranking hand in hand with them. I’m talking about Julia Riera, Martina Capurro Taborda, Lourdes Carlé and Solana Sierra. Today they are all national team players.”

“Behind them, many other girls had the opportunity to compete, to add their first points to the ranking, where today we have twice as many players as five years ago. In this entire group, the average age is around 21 years old and we have many young girls entering the professional world thanks to these competitions,” Calleri concluded.

2024 will be another year of challenges for the mother entity of Argentine tennis. The number of tournaments will continue to grow and will go from 12 ITF dates (a historical record for this sport in the country) to 14, in different categories and in different parts of Argentina. ”The activity begins in the second half of January, with two consecutive W35s. We are sure that this will mean another fundamental boost for girls who today are one step further behind those in the first platoon, who are already ready to play in larger ITF tournaments, and even WTA,” said Agustín Calleri.

The present of women’s tennis in Argentina goes hand in hand with the number of tournaments that are held in the country to accompany the development of the discipline. (AAT Press)

Córdoba, an important stop on the route

The Cordoba Tennis Federation (FCT) is the second in number of affiliates in the country and also a great manager of tournaments of different categories and gender. In 2021, the provincial entity organized about 80% of the competition in the country (two W25, one in Córdoba and another in Villa María; three M15, one in Villa María and two in Córdoba; and two M25, in Villa Allende and in Río Cuarto).

In 2022, in addition to a Challenger, two M15 and one M25 were played, and in 2023, one tournament for women and two for men. “Regarding what is coming in 2024, we have 80% confirmed an M15 in February and a W15 in March. And two Challengers are in the pipeline, ordered, one in Villa María and the other in Córdoba,” said Juan Luis Pérez, president of the Córdoba Tennis Federation and secretary of the Interior of the AAT.

And he added: “The contribution made by the Argentine Tennis Association is very important for the holding of the tournaments. They contribute part of the prize money (prizes that, in the case of category M tournaments, are paid in the official dollar; and in the Challengers, in dollar bills), balls (ball catcher) and arbitration.”

Luisina Giovannini from Córdoba confirmed her great season with her first title as a professional. (Tony Gorczynski / Córdoba Tennis Federation)

The Córdoban leader assured that when players make the leap to professionalism, support from the FCT is done through tournaments. “It is important that they have local competition, at home. “May the five or six girls from Córdoba who made their way playing for years in local clubs continue to hone their skills and be a mirror for other girls,” Pérez argued and assured that the same effect (the motivation to play tennis) causes the Córdoba Open. , the ATP 250 that opens the South American tour on clay.

The competition is welcome because for Argentine athletes “there is no way to play at home.”

2024-01-05 14:26:21
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