Double Approval from Players: Opportunity to Regain Hard Court Rhythm Towards the Last Grand Slam and Points for Lower-Ranked Players
The Los Cabos Tennis Open (ATC), an ATP 250 tournament in Mexico, has received positive feedback from players for two key reasons: regaining hard court rhythm ahead of the US Open and providing opportunities for lower-ranked players.
Transitioning from Grass to Hard Courts
Los Cabos is scheduled right after Wimbledon and before the US Open, which are the last two Grand Slams of the year. Wimbledon is played on grass, while the US Open takes place on hard courts. This transition presents a unique challenge for players.
“We’re here to play some matches and build confidence for the upcoming tournaments, including Toronto, Cincinnati, and the US Open. Los Cabos is a very important tournament, acting as a springboard,” said French player Sadio Doumbia to El Economista, who, along with his compatriot Fabien Reboul, forms the top-seeded doubles pair at the ATC 2025.
“The transition from grass to hard court is definitely unique,” added experienced American doubles player Jamie Cerretani, who is competing in this edition of Los Cabos with Theodore Winegar.
Importance of Surface Transition
In professional tennis tours, there are three playing surfaces: hard court, clay, and grass. The calendars aim to group all tournaments of the same surface within a specific period, marked by the Grand Slams.
The journey begins with hard court at the Australian Open, then shifts to clay with Roland Garros, and finally moves to grass until Wimbledon. After this sequence, the Los Cabos Open appears as one of the early tournaments resuming hard court before the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year played on this surface.
However, the transition isn’t straightforward due to other factors, as Doumbia pointed out: “Coming from Wimbledon, you don’t have much time to adjust to the humidity and heat of Los Cabos. It’s the start of the hard court season, so it’s always challenging to find your rhythm.”
Doumbia and Reboul achieved their best result in ATP Tour doubles this year, becoming runners-up at the Masters 1000 in Rome, played on clay. Just before that, they also excelled on hard court, reaching the runner-up spot in the Mexican Open of Tennis.
Doumbia and Reboul, in total, have contested 11 finals together, all on hard court and clay. “If you can perform well here and gain confidence, you’ll be in a great position for the most important tournament, the US Open. Having these types of tournaments to prepare is beneficial. The conditions are excellent, the atmosphere and people are pleasant. We enjoy coming here,” emphasized the French player.
New Reflections
One of the main criticisms this edition of ATC received was that 10 players, including a top-10 player (Lorenzo Musetti) and the defending champion (Jordan Thompson), withdrew. Although notable profiles like Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov remained, only four of the 32 participants were in the world’s top 50 ranking.
Despite this, Jamie Cerretani and Sadio Doumbia see it as a positive opportunity for emerging players to shine.
“Sometimes, after a Grand Slam, many players are exhausted. As a lower-ranked player, you get unique opportunities to introduce yourself to the high-level tennis circuit. It’s crucial for young players to realize they can compete at this level. Once they start playing more tournaments like these, their confidence will grow,” explained the American.
“I’m confident that for those in the singles draw, they know this is a great opportunity because some withdrew, so they might think it’s their week to win an ATP tournament or reach a final,” shared the French player.
The previous edition serves as an example. Australian Jordan Thompson won his first ATP Tour title in Los Cabos, though only four players withdrew that time.
“We’re starting to see new players emerge and make significant progress, positively impacting the game. It’s always exciting to see fresh faces leaving their mark on the sport,” concluded Cerretani.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Los Cabos Tennis Open (ATC)? The ATC is an ATP 250 tournament in Mexico, scheduled before the US Open and offering players a chance to regain hard court rhythm and gain points for lower-ranked players.
- Why is the transition from grass to hard courts important for players? This transition is crucial as it presents a unique challenge for players, who must adjust to different court conditions and humidity levels.
- How does the ATC benefit lower-ranked players? With some top players withdrawing, the ATC offers lower-ranked players a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and gain confidence before major tournaments.
- What are the criticisms surrounding this edition of ATC? Ten players, including a top-10 player and the defending champion, withdrew from this edition, raising concerns about player fatigue and the overall field’s strength.
- How do players view the ATC as a preparation ground for the US Open? Players see the ATC as an excellent opportunity to regain rhythm on hard courts and build confidence before the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year.
