.  Sure it has become a depleted event, out of the ATP circuit, in the 90s-00s but from 1927 to 1967 it was a very big event and from 1968 to the 80s still a big event. It has been only an exhibition for 10 years out of an history of 80 years. I would also say the same thing about the River Oaks tournament  it became an exhibition only in the 80s but I don't think that Bitsy Grant or Gardnar Mulloy who have won three times this tournament would be glad to hear they have won an exhibition