| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay | December 2008 
Primera Plus National Tennis Open at Canto Del Sol
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| | Canto Del Sol Tennis Director Martin Parra (L) (shown here with Bruno Rodriguez) has been bringing top level professional tennis tournaments to Puerto Vallarta. | |
The Canto Del Sol Tennis Club is hosting a professional tournament that is the largest of the year for Mexican tennis professionals. The tournament had qualifying rounds played this past weekend and play runs through Sunday with a full field of 32 players.
Sponsored by governing bodies AMTP (Association of Mexican Tennis Professionals) and FMT (Federation of Mexican Tennis) and supported by Primera Plus, the City of Puerto Vallarta and the Canto Del Sol Resort, the total prize purse of $150,000 pesos has brought all the best Mexican professionals to Puerto Vallarta to compete in the event.
For the first time the five best Mexican tennis pros will be competing in the same event and have traveled from all parts of the country to compete for the large prize purse as well as valuable points to improve the player's rankings. Mexican rankings and ATP rankings differ, as this event only can earn players national points.
The top seed is Mexico's best player, Santiago Gonzalez from Veracruz and is the #1 seed. Miguel Gallardo from Chihuahua is seeded 2nd, Bruno Echegaray from Mexico City is the 3rd seed, Victor Romero also from Mexico City is the 4th seed, Juan Elizondo of Leon, Guanajuato is seeded 5th and Antonio Ruiz of Nuevo Leon is the 6th seed.
Top seed Gonzalez also is the highest seeded Mexican player on the ATP Tour, ranked at #235. The 3rd seed Echegaray is 2nd best on the ATP Tour, ranked #390 in the world.
The field of 32 had 18 direct entries based on their rankings, 5 wild cards that were invited into the main draw and 8 qualifiers who had to battle Saturday and Sunday to reach the main draw. Also able to enter was one "lucky loser" who lost in the final qualification match but is able to enter due to a withdrawal of one of the players already in the main draw.
The purse is as large as an AMTP event gets, as this is the Grand Finale of the year for Mexican professional tennis. The champion will win a car (unknown what car at this time) and 2nd place will earn $30,000 pesos. Semifinalists will earn $15,000 pesos. Almost as important will be the points awarded, as they dictate rankings which is what the players strive to improve. The champion will receive 250 points and the finalist will earn 187.5 and less as the finishers lose earlier.
To put the prize purse in perspective, many Mexican professional tournaments carry total prize purses of $5,000 - $10,000 pesos. Two large tournaments played recently at the Canto Del Sol had total purses of $50,000 pesos, in itself a large purse for a Mexican tournament. This total purse is $150,000 pesos, which is why players have traveled from all parts of Mexico to compete.
There is also a doubles component in this tournament and after Monday the draw will be revealed. Singles play will run each day until the champion is crowned on Sunday at 11:00 AM. The doubles final will be played on Saturday.
The Canto Del Sol tennis courts had a two week long facelift in preparation for the tournament and future play. The surface was leveled and now painted blue for better vision. Large crowds are expected throughout the tournament and admission is free. Join tennis fans and players in attendance as each round will increase the level, quality and intensity of play. For more information, call the Canto Del Sol Tennis Club at 226-0123, extension 4187. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us