Why have spectators abandoned our top tennis event?

How sad that the country’s premier tennis event cannot attract a crowd.
Perhaps it was just the first day of the week, or maybe it was the traffic, the rain, or whatever the reason. I was contemplating all possible reasons and told myself to hope for things to get better as the week went by.
Three days later came the opening ceremony featuring Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and tennis celebs like Andy Murray, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon. Unfortunately, there was not much of an improvement over Monday. About 100 to 120 showed up to watch world No 4 Murray up against Michael Berrer. Suddenly an ATP tournament looked luckless and washed-out compared to the Yamaha Stadium nearby where thousands of fans thronged to watch a local soccer game. What’s wrong with the picture?
When the Thailand Open was in its early years, back in 2003-2005, there was no room to breathe at Impact Arena, the long-time site of this world class pro-tennis competition. People were everywhere, at the shopping booths, at the activity zones, etc. Hundreds of fans would form a long endless queue, hoping there would be some tickets left, even for remote seats.
This year, during the first five days, every corner was as silent as a graveyard. There were many tennis shops but no customers. And despite some hard efforts by the organisers to drag certain tennis players from their locker rooms to make appearances at the fan zones, it didn’t help much.
Not until Saturday did the situation get better. Whether it was because Murray remained in the fray or the furniture fair in the next hall, it was a big relief to see a larger turnout. Just put yourself in the shoes of the organisers. Who would like to keep organising a tournament that cannot draw the public?
The Thailand Open, which offers the champion a prestigious trophy donated by His Majesty the King, has been held for nine successive years. It’s surely the biggest tennis tournament in the country’s history and is one of very few pro-tennis events in this part of the world. In terms of benefits to players, it serves as a springboard for local players to test their mettle against the elite. It’s a rare opportunity for them, as they cannot get entry anywhere else because of their rankings.
Seriously, the Thailand Open deserves to remain here. Apart from the sporting point of view, the event helps promote our country, especially Thai culture. Perhaps it sounds like a cliche, but 10 out of 10 players, who have participated in this event, share the same impression about our hospitality and our people, and nine out of 10 give the thumbs up to Thai cuisine. Imagine how far our reputation could sink via word of mouth when these players return to their homelands, or when they talk with their fellow players in the locker rooms elsewhere.
But my most memorable and touching moment in the Thailand Open will always be the part when these foreign players thank the audience by performing the “wai”. It’s adorable. No words are enough to appreciate its beauty. You won’t see this in other tournaments, not even in a Grand Slam.