The tennis player has been sad by the news that the tournament could be in its latest edition

David Ferrer was sad and disappointedwith the idea that this can be the last year of Valencia Open. He remembered how much work is behind this ATP tournament. The tennis player has been talking about the present and the future of the competition. 

"With everything we fought, with all the effort that has been done every year, of course that it would be a pity if the Valencia Open would not play again. Juan Carlos Ferrero was the first to think about the importance of this tournament and thanks to him the Open began. He gave me the opportunity to work together and create an own project and this situation hurts me", said Ferrer.

David Serrahima, executive director of the Valencia Open, told us more about this situation. "For today we have no news. We are still waiting for news from the Generalitat Valenciana. From the first moment we continue asking just for continue with agreement we have reached and they are still looking for the way to find a solution. But they have not found it. I insist that the only thing we ask is that what has been agreed. We are doing an exercise of absolute normality. We believe that we are doing it ok for more than thirteen years. Together we have created an incredible tournament and everyone has to contribute the part which is committed. What is missing? They need to call us, come, have the meeting that we are waiting for and sign the contract,"said Serrahima.

The executive director of the tournament has added more arguments. "As a result of the message we received (from the Director of sport of the Generalitat Valenciana, Josep Miquel Moya), we've had a phone conversation where we have shown them various articles of the law on public procurement that we know and that are completely legal tools to execute a contract of this type, as it is the case of the 'Ayuntamiento' and the 'Diputación' who have signed contracts with absolute normality and are public institutions and have the same legislation, so we don't understand the problem. But unfortunately we don't know anything more."

Serrahima has also pointed out that "with the 'Ayuntamiento' and the 'Diputación' we have signed every year normally and they are public contracts. It is true that the 'Conseller', with a public statement, said that the Government would make a public contribution and is what we are asking for. We perfectly understand that the situation of the country and of the Comunidad Valenciana has changed and years ago it could afford to invest and at the moment they cannot be, but it is also true that this is the reason why we accept less money for this edition, and we only ask and demand what is pledged.

Serrahima has said that it is difficult to think about a future in Valencia. "It is very hard to think in 2016 when not have given us solution to the 2014-2015. I think it is clear that tennis fans are with us, Sunday's qualifying we hung the poster of 'sold out', something that very few tournaments may say it. Our prestige sponsors as a Rolex or Mapfre have been thirteen years sponsoring the tournament. We generate more than 60% of the budget in private sponsorship. If we look at the reality of the market, in Barcelona City Council is providing one million euros by the Godó and the Ayuntamiento de Madrid, several million by their Masters. This is a reality of the tennis market. Tournaments need to be projects of city, community, country. Not only sponsored run, they need to be a project much more global."

Ferrer will not play for problems with his right elbow

David Ferrer will not play in Valencia Open by physical problems. The tennis player has explained the reasons: "after four intense weeks, after having spoken with my team, with the doctors and the physios, I decided to not play Valencia Open because I've suffer problems in my right elbow again, as I already had three months ago and I had to stop for two months and a half. And now I have taken this decision. It is a dangerous lesion. It is a pity because if there is a tournament that it hurts me not to play is this one. I've given all for playing here always, but there comes a time that can't be. I feel bad, first, for the public, that creates a spectacular atmosphere of tennis; second, for the organization, which work a lot for making this tournament possible; and third, because we do not know if it will be the last year of the Valencia Open, and that hurts a lot. But I wish this is not going to happen and in the next years be here again", has concluded.