Tennis/tour news

[Alya10]

Tennis Australia is considering a change of surface in the country to replace the current Rebound Ace. Just thought this was interesting considering Rebaound Ace is one of Marat's favourites.

TA takes a look at Open surface
By Leo Schlink
www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21261505-23216,00.html

February 21, 2007 TENNIS Australia is seriously researching the prospect of changing the court surface for the Australian Open.

It is studying several surfaces, not only for Melbourne Park, but also nationally.

Replacing the rubberised Rebound Ace surface would be the biggest change since the Open moved from Kooyong to Melbourne Park in 1988.

Grass had been used since the Open started in 1905. The Rebound Ace surface has been controversial since its introduction, but this season produced its most consistent playing characteristics.

"We had a very successful Open and the court surface was not an issue," tournament director Craig Tiley said.

"However, one of the most important things is the development of a national surface conducive to participation and everyday play and also to the development of champions.

"We are going through a significant research project right now on an ideal surface that we can encourage to be put down around Australia that ticks all the boxes relative to playability, and environmental concerns.

"We have a whole list of criteria we are developing.

"Before we can finalise a decision on that, which could potentially impact on Melbourne Park, we need to make sure we have all the relevant information.

A hardcourt surface similar to the US Open's Deco Turf is believed to be the preference of many coaches and officials.

The construction of Brisbane's new tennis centre, which will be ready for tournaments in January 2009, gives the issue some urgency.

TA would be loath to lay Rebound Ace there if it saw no future for the surface.

[Alya10]

London set to host Masters finale news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6383347.stm

"Federer won his third Masters Cup in four years in Shanghai last year
London could host the end-of-season Masters Cup from 2009 as one of a set of changes being made by the ATP.
The Masters Series will be cut from nine to eight tournaments with the Cup being moved from Asia to Europe.

ATP president Etienne de Villiers said: "The Masters Cup will be called the ATP World Tour Finals and I would like it to be played in London."

De Villiers announced other changes, including punishments for players who drop out of top ranking events.

The strict new sanctions for withdrawals from ATP tournaments will be imposed from 2009, with players in the top eight elite events fined and suspended if they do not show up.

"We had 384 withdrawals last year," de Villiers said.

"There are no options for these events, it's eight of eight for the players. If you don't show up, you will be fined and suspended.

"We have to put some teeth into this - and you can guess how popular I am with the players right now."

De Villiers also said that one of the eight Masters Series events would be held in China.

Shanghai hosted the end-of-year event in 2005 and 2006 but will still stage the championship this season and next.

ATP tournaments in 2009 will also come under four categories of importance, the four grand slams, the Masters Series, 10 other selected events plus others.

And De Villiers announced that 1,000 ranking points will be awarded for each winner of an elite event."

Now I'm curious about whose current MS will be cut... if they will go from 9 to 8 with one of those being in China...
As for the sanctions to players withdrawing from MS tournaments I have to agree with them. I wont name names, but some tournaments (usually the last before the GrandSlams or the TMC) are depleted of top players trying to save their energies... I know the circuit is tough, but then again it's tough for everyone.

[davis]

Well, reduction means Bye-Bye for the Hamburg Masters They have planned to get rid of it for so long, now it's finally going to happen. And Bercy has reason to fear as well, since it's happening right after Madrid and most players qualified for the Masters Cup tend to withdraw...

[Alya10]

davis said:

Well, reduction means Bye-Bye for the Hamburg Masters They have planned to get rid of it for so long, now it's finally going to happen. And Bercy has reason to fear as well, since it's happening right after Madrid and most players qualified for the Masters Cup tend to withdraw...

I had thought about Bercy too , but I didn't know Hamburg was in danger... well, better make the best of it while it's still there ;D

[lau]

alya10 said:

London set to host Masters finale news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6383347.stm

OMG, some..., well, lets call it "ideas" in that article are And I´m not talking about London hosting the MC....

[Alya10]

From Eurosport.com

Women get Wimbledon parity
www.eurosport.com/tennis/wimbledon/2007/sport_sto1094638.shtml

The All England Club have announced that women are to receive equal pay to men at Wimbledon this year. The historic announcement comes after many had questioned why the Championships paid less to women than men when other Grand Slam events had introduced parity.

All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said: "In summary, we take the view that this is good for tennis, good for the women players and good for Wimbledon."

The Australian and US Open have already offered similar pay-cheques to female winners after years of lobbying on the basis that - while perhaps not as physically strong - the depth of talent and strength of women's game pulls as many fans in as the men.

The French Open introduced equal pay for their men's and women's singles champions in 2006 but remain the only major tournament not to offer the same prize money throughout the rounds.

"This is a historic and defining moment for women in the sport of tennis, and a significant step forward for the equality of women in our society," WTA Tour chief Larry Scott said.

"We commend the leadership of Wimbledon for its decisive action in recognizing the progress that women's tennis has made."

Prize money for the 2007 Championships will be announced in April.

Last year Roger Federer earned £655,000 for winning the men's title while women's champion Amelie Mauresmo took home £625,000.

[Annie]

After Korolev-Blake story in Las Vegas a lot of people are totally mad with the round robin format. Some tennis fans have started a petition to get rid of round robins, so if you're in favour of that, you can sign the document here:

www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?nomorerr

[lau]

I think it´s the first time I post the same thing in 3 threads. Sorry for that, but I think it worths it. I´m sorry if I´m getting annoying, but this is the moment to make our opinion be heard......, if you agree LOL ;D


There´s an online petition to get rid of Round Robin. If you agree with the author, please sign. Participation is the only way to change most things we don´t like or think are unfair.
www.petitiononline.com/nomorerr/petition.html


Here are the ATP postal addresses and telephones if you want to let them know your opinion about this by postal mail or phone

ATP Americas
201 ATP Boulevard
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
32082 USA
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

ATP Europe
Monte-Carlo Sun
74 Boulevard d'Italie
98000 Monaco
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

ATP International Group
PO Box N662
Sydney
NSW 1220
Australia
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

ATP Executive Offices
IG House
Palliser Road
London, W14 9EB
United Kingdom
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[lau]

ok..., for bia, what happened in Buenos Aires....

Lapentti withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Lukas Dlouhy.
Ferrero and Devilder finished up in a tie, that was decided by their previous meeting. Devilder won 16 76 60, so he went through.
If Lapentti had played his 2nd match, JCF could have gone through. It was Lapentti's withdrawing that ensured that JCF/Devilder would be decided by head-to-head

Apart from that, Nalbandian lost 2 times, Acasuso retired from the 2nd match after losing the first one and knowing he didn´t have any chance (this is an assumption, he said he had shoulder problems, if I´m not wrong...)

Calleri didn´t play the second match either due to back problems after losing the first one too. (It is believed he would have played with his back injury and take the risk in a normal draw tournament)
The Calleri-Acasuso incident happened in the same day in the afternoon session both.

Gaudio also refused to play the 2nd match after losing the first one and crying in the press conference after an awful defeat and being booed by part of the crowd while he was leaving the court.

And I have no idea if I forgot something.... What hapenned to Ferrero was the worst thing.

[Alya10]

Thanks for the explanation lau.
I didn't follow BA, so I had no idea of what had happened there.

So far I was neither for nor against RR, but after 3 tournaments of this format played (I think it's 3 ...) and with the problems beginning to pile up I'm starting to thing that you were right all along and RR does not benefit tennis...

[lau]

alya10 said:

Thanks for the explanation lau.
I didn't follow BA, so I had no idea of what had happened there.

I followed it and some things had to be explained to me, honestly... BsAs draw was bizarre, you needed a Math degree to understand it. I can look for the mathematical explanation if someone is interested LMAO ;D ;D ;D

[bia2209]

Thanks Lau. That sounds like absolute havoc and is further proof that this RR format is not a workable thing. They clearly have not taken the time to think about what happens in every single eventuality (i'm not sure they could if even if they tried) and that makes it even more of a madhouse.

[lau]

I´m peeing my pants right now!!


news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6411211.stm

Blake out after ATP admits error

James Blake went out of the Las Vegas Open on Friday after governing body the ATP admitted an earlier decison to reinstate him had been incorrect.

The American finished tied with Juan Del Potro and Evgeny Korolev in the round-robin stage after Del Potro retired with Blake leading 6-1 3-1.

Hours later the ATP said Blake should qualify as he had been on course to go through when Del Potro retired.

But ATP chief Etienne de Villiers said: "Clearly, I was wrong to intervene."

Blake had needed to win his final match in straight sets with the loss of no more than five games to secure a quarter-final place, and the suggestion was that Del Potro's retirment had denied him that chance.

De Villiers stepped in, saying: "James was within just a few games of winning this match comfortably to advance."

However, 24 hours later the ATP chief executive said: "I was contacted late at night my time and did not fully understand the issues being discussed and I made a judgment call on what seemed fair.

"However, I understand that judgment calls are not part of the rule book and I must abide by the rules, as must everybody else in the circumstance.

"I apologise to James for giving false hope and to Evgeny for the confusion. I regret that I got involved, that I overruled a supervisor, and I regret this storm in a teacup."

Following a similar situation in Buenos Aires, the round-robin format that was introduced at the turn of the year faces an uncertain future.

"Discussions with ATP Board members and other parties have already started and the future of round robin play has now been put on the agenda for the ATP Board meeting, starting in Miami on 22 March," said De Villiers.




EDIT: BTW, round robin is still alive, so continue signing the online petition (in my sign) if you agree and/or contact the ATP to express your opinion about the format (link in my sign also).

[Annie]

OH. MY. F**********. GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A pure disgrace. If I was an ATP Official, I'd resign right this second... This is unbelievable. And I am totally positive this is a result of fan riots that have been happening all day. They got freaked out by the whole havoc they have created and ran away wagging their tales. What a bunch of losers!!!! But welcome back Zhenechka I hope he hasn't left Vegas yet

[taboo]

"However, I understand that judgment calls are not part of the rule book and I must abide by the rules, as must everybody else in the circumstance." - yes, mister de Villiers, you have to abide by the rules JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
As for RR, if you can't control it, destroy it! This is mayhem!
Very glad Korolev is back! Sad because of Blake's newly revealed attitude!