{"id":4059,"date":"2019-03-01T12:28:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T12:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/?p=4059"},"modified":"2019-06-20T12:28:58","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T12:28:58","slug":"rio-open-pays-tribute-to-maria-esther-bueno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/rio-open-pays-tribute-to-maria-esther-bueno\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Open pays tribute to Maria Esther Bueno"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exhibits trophies and memories…<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Rio Open has consolidated itself as the greatest tournament on the South American swing, and the 2019 edition proved to be an even greater success.<\/p>\n

In a statement Luiz Carvalho, Tournament Director of the Rio Open, said: \u201cEvery year, our tournament grows and the attendance shows how it has managed to consolidate itself in the Brazilian tennis calendar without having to depend so much on what is vital in a competition: tennis itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaturday looked like the years that [Rafael] Nadal came here.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>According to Carvalho, the 2019 Rio Open beat the 50,000 fan attendance mark set when Rafael Nadal played the tournament, and one of the determining factors for this year has been the transformation of the concept behind both the on and off-court activities.<\/p>\n

On Sunday 24 February, when the Serbian Laslo Djere won the tournament title, entertainment was a key factor.<\/p>\n

A sellout crowd saw a parade of flags of the countries represented in Rio, the national anthem sung by pop star Iza and a tribute to Maria Esther Bueno, with a painting of her being created live by the Brazilian street artist Marcello Ment, while the screen showed images of the greatest tennis player in the history of Brazil, were some of the extra entertainment elements of the tournament.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>“It’s no use wanting to bring 50, 100, 200 thousand people to an event just to see sneakers,\u201d said Fernando Meligeni, the former player who was a good friend of Bueno’s.<\/p>\n

Off court throughout the week there was a display of Maria Esther\u2019s Wimbledon and US Open trophies as well as some of the memorable dresses that she wore while she was winning her 19 Grand Slam titles alongside other memorabilia on loan to the event from her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be very difficult not to have Maria Esther present this year,\u201d said Carvalho, a close friend of Maria Esther said ahead of start of the Rio Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a central figure in our \"\"<\/a>tournament, with its history and charisma.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we are happy to be able to pay tribute and celebrate her legacy, as well as giving the public the chance to see true relics of Brazilian and world tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exhibit was on a special stand located on the Leblon Boulevard, which was passed by everyone who attended the tournament, an important legacy of the Brazilian icon, whose fame remains undiminished after her untimely death on 8 June, 2018, at 78 years of age following her battle with cancer.<\/p>\n

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