Mexico City bullring to host Federer- Zverev tennis match
Posted November 22, 2019 6:00 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) - For 73 years, Mexico City's Plaza de Toros bullring has hosted hundreds of bullfights, but on Saturday it will become a tennis court, as Roger Federer faces Germany's Alexander Zverev.
Saturday's match is the fourth stop in a tour of Latin America by the tennis greats.
It will be Federer's first time in Mexico, in a career that has seen him win 20 Grand Slam titles.
Raúl Zurutuza, the director of Mextenis - which organizes Mexico's Acapulco and Los Cabos tennis tourneys - was happy to see the Swiss player in Mexico.
'œThis is an achievement, because we know that it would be hard to get Roger back here as an active player, because he has his tournament schedule,'ť Zurutuza said. 'œThat is why we are happy to have him here.'ť
Federer has turned down invitations to the Mexico Open in Acapulco. He prefers to play in an open in Dubai around the same date.
Federer and Zverev played in Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and will play their final match in Quito, Ecuador.
On Thursday, workers were still laboring to set up the court in the bullring, which has also hosted concerts, professional wrestling and boxing matches in the past.
A poster promoting "The Greatest Match" featuring Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev is displayed at the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullfighting arena, ahead of their exhibition tennis match, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. It will be Federer's first time in Mexico, in a career that has seen him win 20 Grand Slam titles. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers transform the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The venue, recognized as the largest bullring in the world, was chosen for the event because it can seat more than 40,000. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers prepare the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullfighting arena ahead of an upcoming exhibition tennis match dubbed "The Greatest Match," between Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. The event is part of a Latin American exhibition tour that includes Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and concluding in Quito on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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A worker walks on the bullring at the Plaza de Toros Mexico that is being converted to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. Work began on the ring last Sunday to flatten the surface and leave it free of lumps, then placed a clay base, and finally a sealant on the sides to prevent the movement of the rubber mat that will serve as the tennis court. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers install a sign promoting "Mextenis" at the Plaza de Toros Mexico arena that is being altered to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. Raúl Zurutuza, the director of Mextenis, which organizes the Acapulco and Los Cabos tennis tourneys, said 'this is an achievement, because we know that it would be hard to get Roger back here as an active player.' (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers lay down the court surface as they convert the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. Work began on the ring last Sunday to flatten the surface and leave it free of lumps. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers lay down the court surface as they transform the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullfighting ring into a tennis court, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The site has already played host to motocross events, concerts, wrestling matches and boxing fights, including one with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and another with Julio Cesar Chavez. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers build a tennis court in the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring ahead of an upcoming exhibition tennis match, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. On Saturday, the converted bullring is set to become the stage for a tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and his German rival Alexander Zverev, as the stars make their fourth stop on a tour that has brought them throughout Latin America. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers prepare the court surface as they convert the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. Several hundred workers transformed the bullring into a tennis court. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers are silhouetted against the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullfighting arena that has been converted to host an exhibition tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. The venue, recognized as the largest bullring in the world, was chosen for the event because it has an estimated 42,000 seating capacity. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Workers add the finishing touches at the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring that has been converted into a tennis court to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. At the end of Saturday night's event, workers will dismantle the court in order to welcome its regular visitors on Sunday to watch the fourth bullfights of the season. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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The Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring, left, that has been transformed to host an upcoming exhibition tennis match between Swiss great Roger Federer and German rival Alexander Zverev, sits next to the Estadio Azul soccer stadium, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. For 73 years, Plaza de Toros Mexico has been witness to mostly great bullfights and mighty matadors, but it as also hosted motocross events, concerts, as well as wrestling and boxing matches. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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