The Copa Claro is the third stop of the four-tournament Latin American swing, and is contested on clay at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, known as the “Cathedral of Argentinean tennis”. An Argentine has reached the final in eight of the 10 editions of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, with champions including Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, Juan Monaco and David Nalbandian.

Name: Copa Claro
Category: ATP World Tour 250
Place: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date: 15.02.2010-20.02.2010
Draw Size: S-32 D-16
Surface: Clay Prize
Money: $ 475,300
Total Financial Commitment: $ 544,300
Ticket Hotline: +54-115-533-5533
Visit Official Site: www.copatelmex.com

ATP Buenos Aires

Facts & Figures

All-Spanish Final – David Ferrer did not drop a set en route to his first final at the Copa Telmex, where he came up short against countryman Ferrero. The No. 17-ranked Ferrer has a 6-4 event record.

Monaco Misses Out – 2007 champion Juan Monaco missed out on a third final appearance in Buenos Aires as the Argentine was beaten by eventual winner Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semi-finals.

ATP World Tour Buenos Aires

Almagro Disappointment – Third seed Nicolas Almagro, who was a semi-finalist in 2007, suffered a first-round exit at the hands of countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver in three sets.

Past Champions

2010 | Singles Juan Carlos Ferrero | Doubles Sebastian Prieto / Horacio Zeballos
2009 | Singles Tommy Robredo | Doubles Marcel Granollers / Alberto Martin
2008 | Singles David Nalbandian | Doubles Agustin Calleri / Luis Horna
2007 | Singles Juan Monaco Martin | Doubles Garcia / Sebastian Prieto
2006 | Singles Carlos Moya | Doubles Frantisek Cermak / Leos Friedl
2005 | Singles Gaston Gaudio | Doubles Frantisek Cermak / Leos Friedl
2004 | Singles Guillermo Coria | Doubles Lucas Arnold Ker / Mariano Hood
2003 | Singles Carlos Moya | Doubles Mariano Hood / Sebastian Prieto
2002 | Singles Nicolas Massu | Doubles Gaston Etlis / Martin Rodriguez
2001 | Singles Gustavo Kuerten | Doubles Lucas Arnold Ker / Tomas Carbonell
1995 | Singles Carlos Moya | Doubles Vincent Spadea / Christo Van Rensburg
1994 | Singles Alex Corretja | Doubles Sergio Casal / Emilio Sanchez
1993 | Singles Carlos Costa | Doubles Tomas Carbonell / Carlos Costa
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SOURCE:
“Copa Claro”
http://www.atpworldtour.com
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Buenos-Aires.aspx

The organisers are seriously considering converting to a hardcourt tournament from next year to try and attract top players.

“It would be a clear mistake because there are already many tournaments on fast courts. I will do everything I can for (the Latin American tournaments) to remain as they are,” said Ferrero, who also won the Brazil Open the previous week.

The 2003 French Open champion, who has moved on to another clay court tournament at Acapulco this week, added: “My goal is to keep playing at this level. I want to be among the top 10 again and what I achieved (here) is very important to gain confidence.”

Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis

The Buenos Aires Open faces a crossroads after 10 years’ continual growth came to head with a brilliant final between Spaniards David Ferrer and Ferrero, who won Sunday’s final 5-7 6-4 6-3.

But, run by Argentine former ATP Tour and Davis Cup player Martin Jaite, three major factors are regarded as conspiring against it being a greater success.

Being a clay court tournament it is only likely to attract leading players from countries such as Spain, Italy and Argentina’s neighbours and even then not the very best.

The finalists were both here as part of their plans to climb back into the world’s top 10.

Then there was the little success enjoyed by Argentine players this year with only one reaching the semi-finals, 2007 champion Juan Monaco, and home favourite David Nalbandian’s comeback from hip surgery nine months ago cut short by a leg muscle tear after two rounds.

This and bad weather meant the crowds came in fewer numbers. Heavy rain disrupted the programme and forced Ferrer and Monaco to play their quarter-finals and semi-finals on Friday.
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SOURCE:
“Ferrero against Buenos Aires Open change to hardcourt”
Feb 23, 2010
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/top-stories/Ferrero-against-Buenos-Aires-Open-change-to-hardcourt/articleshow/5605331.cms

Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis

Past Champions

- Singles
2009 Tommy Robredo
2008 David Nalbandian
2007 Juan Monaco
2006 Carlos Moya
2005 Gaston Gaudio
2004 Guillermo Coria
2003 Carlos Moya
2002 Nicolas Massu
2001 Gustavo Kuerten
1995 Carlos Moya
1994 Alex Corretja
1993 Carlos Costa

- Doubles
2009 Marcel Granollers / Alberto Martin
2008 Agustin Calleri / Luis Horna
2007 Martin Garcia / Sebastian Prieto
2006 Frantisek Cermak / Leos Friedl
2005 Frantisek Cermak / Leos Friedl
2004 Lucas Arnold Ker / Mariano Hood
2003 Mariano Hood / Sebastian Prieto
2002 Gaston Etlis / Martin Rodriguez
2001 Lucas Arnold Ker / Tomas Carbonell
1995 Vincent Spadea / Christo Van Rensburg
1994 Sergio Casal / Emilio Sanchez
1993 Tomas Carbonell / Carlos Costa

About the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club

The Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club is a private tennis club located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The club is the host of the Copa Telmex, an ATP Tour tournament. The main stadium court has a capacity of 5,500 spectators. The stadium has hosted numerous Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties. Since 2003, the club has also hosted an exhibition tournament, La copa Argentina de tenis Peugeot (Peugeot Argentina Tennis Cup), in December which features top tour players.

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SOURCES:

ATP World Tour
http://www.atpworldtour.com
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Buenos-Aires.aspx

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires_Lawn_Tennis_Club

The world No. 10 heads into the tournament as the top seed. Nalbandian leads a solid field of clay-court players that includes last week’s final four at Costa do Sauipe: Nicolas Almagro, Brasil Open winner Tommy Robredo, Jose Acasuso, and runner-up Thomaz Bellucci.

Nalbandian, a champion in Sydney a little over a month ago, looks to add an 11th tour title to his resume. The Argentine won his home tournament in 2008, posting a three-set victory over compatriot Jose Acasuso. Nalbandian is set to begin his title defense against Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador in an opening-round match on Monday night.

Second seed Almagro, a Copa Telmex semifinalist in 2007, hopes to regroup in Buenos Aires following a shock upset at Costa do Sauipe last week. The Spaniard failed to defend his Brasil Open crown, losing to qualifier Frederico Gil in the semifinals. Almagro faces countryman Oscar Hernandez in the first round.

Fourth seed Carlos Moya makes his eighth appearance in Buenos Aires. The veteran Spaniard, on a semifinals collision course with Nalbandian, took home the title in 2003 and 2006.

Former world No. 5 Gaston Gaudio, a winner in Buenos Aires in 2005, received a wildcard into the tournament. The 2004 Roland Garros champion, sidelined with injury for the past 17 months, could meet Nalbandian in the second round.
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SOURCE:
“Buenos Aires – top clay court talent ready for Copa Telmex”
News
Tennistalk
2-19-09
Kelli DeMario
http://www.tennistalk.com
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20090216/Buenos_Aires_-_top_clay_court_talent_ready_for_Copa_Telmex