Rio de Janeiro, 26 February 2014
Maria Bueno takes time out to have a hit in Rio
It was a long but enjoyable ten days in Rio for Maria, who seemed to be running from pillar to post at times.
Maria’s commitments there were extensive, ranging from on-court appearances to long stints in the commentary box for SporTV.
“Friday was quarter finals day and a very long day,” said Maria. “Probably my longest of the week!”
Maria took every opportunity she could get to have a hit on court herself and Rio’s Jockey Club was no exception where she has been watched by large crowds.
“It took me a while to get around the site,” she laughed. “I was stopped all the time to sign autographs and pose with fans for photos. I’m amazed these people are of all ages – from those my age down to young kids!
“I was very touched at the warm reception I got from the crowd the other night at my presentation. It was really nice.”
Time out
Last Saturday she was scheduled to pop into Nick Bollitieri’s Clinic for a quick personal appearance and to catch up with her old friend.
Imagine her surprise when she arrived to be begged by organsiers to take over the show as Nick had been snowed in the United States and his flight cancelled.
Rio Open Kids Day Clinic
Two hundred children participated in the Rio Open presented by Claro hdtv Kid’s Day to get a taste for playing tennis, many from social projects in Rio, and experience the venue of the greatest tennis event in South America.
Maria had her hands pretty full as she and local coaches organised the kids into groups over the six courts set aside for the event.
“It was a bit chaotic but the kids had fun and that’s the main thing,” said Maria. “It was very hot too – 35 degrees – so it as quite an effort from everybody!”
The clinic also involved Maria signing hundreds of autographs and posing for photos.
Maria Bueno signs autographs
“Usually people aged 40 or more ask to take photos with me. Here kids are asking. That is a big surprise,” she said.
In all a great success, after which Maria had a hit and then returned to the commentary box for the semi finals.
The surprise of the day was the straight sets win of Alexandr Dologopolov over the second seed, David Ferrer, 6-4 6-4, while world number number one, Rafael Nadal, had to fight hard against compatriot Pablo Andujar.
“Rafa dropped the opening set and had to fight right down to the wire,” said Maria. “He won through in the third set tiebreak but it was a battle and a thrilling match.”
Nadal looked tired after the match and admitted he didn’t feel the same energy as on other days due to the heat and humidity. He also suffered cramps in his hand.
Interestingly, it was the 17th match of Nadal’s career that he won less points than his opponent (106 to 108), but won 2-6 6-3 7-6(10).
The WTA Event
Teliana Pereira and Maria Bueno
In the women’s event, the top seed Klara Zakopalova handed out a 6-2 6-1 defeat to Brazilian favourite Teliana Pereira and cruised into the final where she met the Japanese Kurumi Nara.
Pereira is the first Brazilian woman in 23 years to crack the WTA top 100 and she enjoyed meeting Maria, who is an icon in her country.
“It has been very good for the tournament to have such Brazilians doing well in both the men’s and women’s events,” said Maria.
“Thomaz and Teliana have more than justified the wild cards they received and this whole event is a great boost for tennis in Brazil. It is important it is a success.”
ATP Boss in town
Chris Kermode, the new boss of the ATP paid a visit to Rio
ATP President and CEO Chris Kermode was in Rio assessing the tournament and was pleased with what he had seen.
“Startup events are very different,” Kermode said. “It is incredibly difficult to work everything right. Here we have a fantastic venue, many things being put together. For a year one, this is great.”
Kermode, who started a three-year term as head of the ATP this year, added: “There are always improvements along the way, but it doesn’t get much better than this. The venue is beautiful, the surrounding is beautiful, the organization.”
Maria caught with him while he was there and it seems Chris is also talking about the possibility of raising the level of the tournament in the future.
“He recognises that Brazil and South America are great markets for tennis,” she said. “There is so much attention on us right now, with the World Cup and the Olympics, so we need to take advantage to give tennis also a big push.”
The Rio Open is an ATP 500 event and one of 61 tournaments in more than 30 countries.
Finals Day
Maria Bueno presents the trophy to surprise winner Kurumi Nara from Japan
Maria presented the trophy to surprise winner Kurumi Nara, who arrived in Rio as just another player in the main draw of the first WTA event of the city.
The world number 62 couldn’t believe she defeated the top seed Klara Zakopalova 6-1 4-6 6-1 on Sunday to take the Sugar Loaf inspired trophy.
Nara moved into the top 50 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career this week.
In the men’s final Nadal beat Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6(3) and never looked under threat on his way to winning his 43rd clay court title and stretching his record on the surface to 298-21, the best of the Open era.
Dolgopolov hit several exquisite winners, especially from the backhand wing, but struggled to find a consistent enough game to trouble Nadal, who made only a handful of unforced errors in the whole match.
The 2013 French Open champion has not lost on clay since his defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters 10 months ago.
“It was a fantastic tournament and Luiz [Fernando Carvalho] should be very proud of what he and his team did in Rio,” concluded Maria. “I was very pleased to play a small part in all that and wish them every success in years to come.”