– The trump cards of the sand season should also shine at the Swiss Indoors
With Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz and Andrej Rublew, the Basel tournament (October 21st to 27th) brought in four in-form players. More are to follow.
Published: May 16, 2024, 3:17 p.m
Happy Greek: Stefanos Tsitsipas is celebrating after winning the title in Monte Carlo – and is competing in Basel for the first time since 2019.
Photo: Daniel Cole (AP Photo)
Roger Brennwald has followed the larger clay court tournaments of the last few weeks with particular attention. Not because of the Swiss, who unfortunately don’t currently play a big role in world tennis, but because of the players he has signed for this year’s Swiss Indoors (October 21st to 27th).
The Basel tennis pioneer was pleased to note their results. Hubert Hurkacz won in Estoril (ATP 250), Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo (1000), Casper Ruud in Barcelona (500) and Andrej Rublew in Madrid (1000). These four top 10 players will also play on the Rhine knee in the fall.
Advance sales begin on Wednesday, May 29th at 10 a.m. on the Swiss Indoors website and at the official Ticketcorner advance sales points.
Of course it wouldn’t bother Brennwald if one of them increased his fame in the following weeks. Ruud and Tsitsipas play their best tennis on clay and have both reached the final of the French Open. The Norwegian lost to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal respectively in 2023 and 2022, and the Greek lost a 2-0 set lead against Djokovic in the 2021 final. This time it could be your year at the Porte d’Auteuil, because the top 3 are currently having a hard time.
Tennis is in transition. Brennwald sees it that way too, which is why he changed his tactics this year: “We contacted around a dozen players so that we had a broad base,” he says. “This is different than before, when we had a superstar on the poster and did all the marketing with him.”
His forehand is a feast for the eyes: Andrej Rublew is taking part in the Swiss Indoors for the first time.
Photo: Andrew Medichini (AP Photo)
For a long time everything revolved around Roger Federer, in 2023 Carlos Alcaraz was the poster boy. The Spaniard had toppled Djokovic in a spectacular final at Wimbledon and was on everyone’s lips. But he had a hard time as a result and had to forfeit the Swiss Indoors due to an injury. The Alcaraz team around the experienced coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has recognized that smart planning is important for the young star’s career. And that also includes renunciation. So the 21-year-old doesn’t want to commit to the Basel Week this time.
Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner, who is currently out with hip problems, is currently reluctant to make any commitments for the autumn and, as last year’s champion in Vienna, would probably prefer the competing tournament on the Danube. “We have an agreement with Vienna that we won’t poach the winners,” says Brennwald.
The Swiss Indoors are in contact with the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, the Basel winner of the last two years. Likewise with Holger Rune, who enlivened the 2023 tournament with his collaboration with Boris Becker at the time. Brennwald emphasizes that we will continue to rely on the next generation. “You suddenly see new faces like Alejandro Tabilo, who plays great tennis. And the Swiss Indoors will also attract one or two of these players.” The Chilean just outclassed world number 1 Djokovic in Rome.
With the commitment of four top 10 players, the Basel tournament has set its first goal. Brennwald promises that other top players would follow. “We will offer a stronger field than in 2023.” As far as the Swiss are concerned, the tournament director would like to wait and see. He says: “We’re hoping for exploits.”
Stan Wawrinka has been struggling for months. Dominic Stricker is currently training at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy near Nice for his comeback to the grass season. Leandro Riedi was recently slowed down by stomach problems after good results.
A showpiece: The new Basel Center Court looks very elegant.
Photo: Eduardo Elia Photographs
Brennwald looks back with satisfaction on last year’s tournament, which was positive in all respects: “We achieved a financial turnaround, attracted over 60,000 spectators, had spectacular games and a good atmosphere. We are highly motivated to continue writing the history of Swiss Indoors. But we are aware that it is not just a sporting event, but also increasingly a social event.”
Last year they set an example with the more elegant, darkened Center Court, now it’s the foyer’s turn: “We will offer a world of experience,” promises Brennwald. “We will set up a large screen and a small stand in the entrance area so that spectators feel welcome. Because ultimately they are the ones who create the unique atmosphere inside and out.”
More about the Swiss IndoorsSimon Graf is deputy. Head of the sports department and has been reporting on ice hockey and tennis since 1994. He studied history and German at the University of Zurich and wrote several sports books. His current one: “Inspiration Federer”.More information@SimonGraf1
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2024-05-16 13:17:08
#Swiss #Indoors #Basel #Tsitsipas #Ruud #Hurkacz #Rublew
