Brazil Open organisers admit problems

Organizers of the Brazil Open tennis tournament have conceded improvements need to be made ahead of next year's version of the ATP 250 event. The tournament was widely condemned by players and fans amid controversy surrounding the quality of the Ibirapuera arena surface, the balls and overcrowded stands. Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who won Sunday's final with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Argentina's David Nalbandian, was among the most vocal critics. The 11-time grand slam winner claimed the balls were not up to ATP standard and bemoaned the court's surface after he was one of several players to fall on an uneven section of clay. The company responsible for organizing the event, Koch Tavares, admitted Monday the surface had not been good enough. "The players were not happy with the court," Koch Tavares' competition manager Roberto Burigo said. "Next time we are going to make sure the courts are tested before the tournament begins." Fans also complained of paying up to US$150 for a ticket and being left without a seat. Burigo denied problems with seating allocation but said it was possible fans had entered with counterfeit tickets. Source : XINHUA