Final preparations are underway for the first Los Cabos Open, a hardcourt event, taking place 8-14 of August. The Abierto Tennis Mexicano
250 is replacing the ATP 250 event in Bogota, a tournament won by Australia's
Bernard Tomic in 2015.
With 20 000 tennis fans expected, and 55 television
stations airing the tournament across 47 countries to 3 million viewers the eyes
of the world will definitely be on Cabo.
The $780,000 pot of prize money makes it the
fifth-highest among the 39 ATP 250 tournaments. Enough to attract players from tennis’s
top 100.
The presence of Austria’s up and coming Dominic Thiem is
causing much excitement. At number 15 in ATP rankings, he has 5 titles under
his belt at only 22 years old. Another rising star is, of course last year’s
winner, Bernard Tomic. Currently ranked at number 22 with three championships
to his name, all won in the last year.
Other prominent players include Ivo Karlovic of Croatia
at 33 in the ranking, San Querrey of USA, ranking 37, and Spaniards Fernando
Verdasco located at position 51 and Tommy Robredo who sits at position 72 of
the ATP.
All in all this year’s first tournament will feature 28
players in singles and 16 in doubles. The new stadium is almost ready and will
seat up to 3500 spectators.
Investors aim to raise up to $4 billion to bring the
complex up to ATP 500 status by 2017. When the tournament will move to its permanent
home at the Solaz Los Cabos, which will have a stadium and four other courts.
Clearly Cabo will become known as a suitable host for major
tennis tournaments. Attracting professional tennis players with big prize
money, a first class tennis facility and all the natural beauty and luxurious lifestyle
that Cabo has to offer.
Director of Marketing and Communication of the Mexican Tennis Open and Pegasus Group, Jose Antonio Fernandez says – “Los Cabos has
great air links to the United States and Canada, where US Open Series
tournaments take place, giving players the opportunity to use Los Cabos as a
tune-up event a week after playing the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati and
just before the US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the year.”