Pune Open explains plan to bring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal in future
The Pune Open will feature just one top ten player in this year's edition, Kevin Anderson, as the other one who was committed to play, Marin Cilic, will not play due to a physical issue. The organizers tried to bring in one of the Big 4 players - Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - but all of them except the Serb (who will play in Doha) have chosen Australia as the place to start the new season. The Pune Tournament Director Prashant Sutar explained that they will try to bring in one of the Big Four players in 2020 when the event will take place after the Australian Open in early February and not before, as the ATP Cup in Australia will take place. 'It's not about economical', said Sutar in an exclusive interview with Tennis World USA commenting on the difficulties of bringing the tennis legends in Pune. 'We also have to look at the stadium capacity to be increased because right now the stadium capacity we have is about 4000 spectators. But, then, if you bring the Big 4, we have to have at least 10000-15000 (capacity). We are considering (increasing the stadium capacity next year onwards)...Just getting the Big 4 will not help but we also have to make sure that once the Big 4 come, the tennis promotion in the state of Maharashtra in India should also go on.'
On Pune Open taking after place the Australian Open in 2020, Sutar added: 'Now, there have been discussions that we will be getting the week 6 so I think it will be better for us because this year, due to Christmas time and New Year's Eve, we have tough times managing the event. Once it goes to week 6, we will probably be better off.'
On the world No. 7 Marin Cilic's withdrawal, Sutar concluded: 'I spoke with him, he has not yet recovered from his knee injury. It will take time for him to heal and he won't play this year's event.'
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