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Shanghai organizers plan to compensate fans
By Yi Xing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-16 07:31
SHANGHAI: Tennis Masters Cup organizers promised spectators that they will
have a huge discount for next year's tickets in a bid to redeem the Cup's image
due to the upsetting withdrawals of fan favourites.
Refael Nadal pauses
during an interview in Shanghai. | The world No 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain withdrew from the tournament on Monday
citing foot injury followed by American veteran Andre Agassi after losing his
first match against Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
That pushed up the number of stars backing out from the year-ending
tournament to five, including Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick.
This is the first time in the Cup's history that five top players have backed
out. Brad Drewett, tournament director, described it as "a perfect storm."
"The players ranked from No 2 to No 6 are absent, and this is certainly a
pity to the fans here," said Wang Liqun, deputy director of the organizing
committee and general manager of Shanghai Bashi Group.
Wang said they have discussed with the AFP about ways to compensate fans,
including ticket price discounts next year.
"Those who have already bought tickets for this tournament will be able to
enjoy a discount next year," he said. "Of course, we are not going to raise the
price."
Wang, together with Qin Weichang, deputy director from
Shanghai Administration of Sports, also warned ATP to prevent such withdrawals
from happening again that could hurt China's growing tennis market.
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