Andy Murray’s so-called ‘unpopular opinion’ about tennis in South America is proving to be more popular than he thought.
On Saturday the former world No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion published a post on social media calling for the continent to have a designated place in the Tour calendar, including a Masters 1000 tournament. This month events are taking place across South America alongside those happening in Europe and the Middle East. The most prestigious of those are the Rio Open in Brazil and Alcapulco Open in Mexico which are both classed as ATP 500 tournaments.
A recent report from tennis publication Clay quoted unnamed sources as saying that Argentina is set to lose one of their ATP 250 events next year and the only ATP-Tour event in Chile could be under threat in the future. Hampering efforts to bring world-class tennis to the region. Something Murray fully backs.
“Unpopular opinion, South America should have its own dedicated swing on the tennis tour with its own masters series,” he wrote on X.
“The way the fans support the tournaments there is incredible. Amazing atmospheres and is clearly part of their sporting culture.”
Murray’s post has been met with support from others in the world of tennis who agree with him. Former top 10 player Diego Schwartzman says the governing body of men’s tennis has been showing less support to tennis in his region. Even though the current top 100 include six Argentines, three Chileans and one Brazillian.
“Let (the) ATP Tour know this Andy! Every year they put (give) us less support. Not just because of how the fans support the tournaments,” Schwartzman wrote.
“Also how many players we have and we had on the top as u know. We deserve more than this from the ATP.”
Nicolás Pereira, who is currently a member of the ATP Players Advisory Council, wrote on X that Murray ‘got that right’ with his comment. Meanwhile, Boris Becker stated that ‘Tennis should go to countries/continents where tennis is booming.’
John Isner also weighed in on the topic by saying that a Masters 1000 in South America would create an ‘insane atmosphere.’ Masters events have been a prominent fixture on the Tour since 1990 but a tournament of this level has never been held in the region. This season five are being staged in North America, four in Europe and one in Asia. South America has also never staged the ATP Tour Finals.
Currently, Murray’s post on South America has received more than 5,000 reposts and 43,000 likes.
