Errani Won’t Play Acapulco; Would Like WTA Champs On Clay

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd October 2013

Errani Won’t Play Acapulco; Would Like WTA Champs On Clay

epa03881243 Sara Errani of Italy returns a shot against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the second round match of the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Japan, 24 September 2013. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA |

Former Acapulco champion Sara Errani has decided to play the International Series tournament in Shenzhen, during the first half of 2014 instead of defending her title in Acapulco. Top 10 players are only allowed to play one international Series tournament per each half of a season.

The Italian has frequently spoken for her love of the Mexican tournament, but it will transition from clay to hard courts in 2014 and she will take pass on the event. She admits to being a little upset.

“Acapulco for me is very special all the years, not only this year that I won, and was maybe my first best tournament in my career I made from qualies to semis there, and it’s from there I start to grow up. Of course a bit sad, but I think I can be very good tournament also if not on clay. Is very good place, so can be very good, and it will be very good also on hard court.

Acapulco is played before the Masters Series tournament at Indian Wells and tournament organizers believe that by going to hard courts that they will draw a better field. On the ATP’s men’s side they have announced that Andy Murray will play there for the first time and that 2013 finalist David Ferrer will return. But veteran Daniela Hantuchova is the only woman to have been announced so far for the International Series event.

Errani gets it, sort of.

“I understand that, of course,” she said. “If they want to maybe have more players, it’s a good way to prepare Indian Wells on hard court there, so of course I understand that. But from my side I feel maybe better on clay and I like more clay.

The Italian will face Victoria Azarenka in the opening match at the WTA Championships, which is being played on an indoor hard court. When the tournament moves to Singapore in 2014 for the next five years it will also be played on hard court. The 26-year-old Errani may not still be playing the event if it ever switches to another surface, but she wouldn’t mind. That one would consist of red clay.

“I mean, you change the place every three years, so why not?,” she asked. “It can be also maybe on clay or on grass, so why not? It’s the Championships. I think can be good to change also the surface.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, Daniela Hantuchova, David Ferrer, Indian Wells, Sara Errani, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wta