Shanghai wants to be its own ATP category

(Crédit: Shanghai Rolex Masters)

For an other piece on the Huffington Post about the asian swing and especially on the Shanghai Rolex Masters, I talked to the tournament director Michael A. Luevano. And during the conversation about what next, he told me about the biggest project they want to achieve in the years to come : becoming their own category of event.

So I'd feel it'd be interesting to also share this in english. Here are the quotes :

"We’re very comfortable with our men direction. We had an opportunity in 2008 to become a combined event, but declined. We would ultimately like to become a men Slam, a celebration of men’s tennis let’s say. With the highest prize money, the most points, a unique category of event that could be not in competition but work alongside the Grand Slams. I know no one can buy into a Grand Slam. Grand Slams are tradition, and we understand that very well. We’re not trying for the 5th Grand Slam, we’re trying for a new type of identity in tennis. Yes, we have had long discussions with the ATP and I think it’ll take time, finding calendar space, addressing all the various issues. They know our agenda, our dream, our desire. We have the most amazing ressources, probably in the world. We have the players support obviously, we’ve been voted the best Masters event by them for a number of years. And we’re in the right market place. We’re focused on it, working closely together with the ATP. But I don’t think it’ll happen before 2018."

The tournament director also told me that the next step before this change of category would surely be to become a 10 day event like Indian Wells - the great rival - and Miami.

"Of course, there’s no secret we have had hard discussions about when we can secure an upgrade in terms of the 10 days. There are certain challenges that come with that. Chris Kermode is quite supportive of the initiative but you have to put all the pieces in place. You don’t want to hurt the asian swing. We were hopeful to get it done this year, to start into 2017 but it doesn’t look like it’ll happen, it’ll be probably not happening before 2018."

You can find the whole feature (in french) HERE.