Dont think Ive ever seen one this bad. ATP challenger 50 event in Brazzaville in Republic of Congo last direct entry 1531 and only 6 names on the alt list. Be surprised if a qualifying draw happens and this is before anyone drops out.
Good that they are trying to branch out to countries that don't have a history of watching/playing tennis, but can't help that there are Foreign Office warnings across chunks of Congo...I imagine that the safety warnings put off a lot of players (never mind the cost of getting there).
It would probably help if there was another event in the same region/continent the following or previous week. Would surely act as an incentive to play for some?
Still no Brits but the qualifying entry is out. Looks like some players have seen the weak entry and decided to make the trip now. The top 11 players in qualifying would have displaced the bottom 11 in the main draw had they entered.
Just checking on the list for Brazzaville next week. All the alts into the main draw. The qualifying draw list is currently at 8, so currently 12 Alt spots then 4 WCs. Youd get a ranking point for winning 1st round of qualifying. I think you see some stronger M15s than this!
There were two M25 in Brazzaville in the summer which had better numbers than this. I wonder if its a because its one event on its own and a bit out of the way to the rest of the tour. Or if the conditions at the M25 events were not very good and word got around.
Even on the womens tour, some of the entry lists on the WTA 500 events towards the end of the year have been a gift, and Katie has taken full advantage.