GB 2016 Calendar

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: GB 2016 Calendar

RJA · Hall of fame

A lot of the umpires and line judges travel all over the country to officiate at futures so there is obviously a significant cost but lets be serious here. The LTA can afford to host a futures event every week if they wanted to.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The cost of umpires (and everything else) was what the Sharm tournament director factored in when he said that a 10k actually costs 20k to host.

It seems a useful rule of thumb (and probably top end).

A lot of ITF umpires, in my experience, are only medium level ones, it's not nothing but it doesn't cost much to pay them or for their travel etc.

Jaffa · Challenger level

DIdn't the LTA do similar last year? Poor schedule to begin with but then added in a few Futures afterwards?

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Edit: Never mind, read the wrong page once again! disbelief

-- Edited by BeefyDeedz on Thursday 12th of November 2015 11:09:31 AM

-- Edited by BeefyDeedz on Thursday 12th of November 2015 11:11:51 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Indications suggest this is the final list

there are two implications - more travelling for the higher ranked men and 25K women and less tournaments for the umpires to get their ITF qualification numbers(some are already having to go overseas to make up their numbers)

Will the LTA provide a travel grant for those players that are most affected? (I suspect not...)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The British Tour events for the first three months are also posted for 2016.

They've lost a few (Norwich and Tipton and Warwick).

Also, they've announced that there will be some three-day Tour events as a new thing for 2016: 28 players draws (typically) and a MTB instead of a third-set, with one round played on day, two rounds on days two and three.

Doesn't seem a bad idea although you're obviously cutting down hugely the number of players and so the possiblity of playing competitive matches for the lower ranked ones. It's only a pilot scheme, and it seems like there should be a place for a shortened format (would help the higher-ranked players fit them in with their ITF events). But, with the dearth of match possibilities here, I hope it doesn't replace the other longer format.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, the prize money has been SLASHED yet again.

2015:

The prize money break down for 2015 is as follows:

Premier Tier

Tier 1

Tier 2

Winner

£1,500

£750

£250

Runner-up

£800

£400

£150

Losing semi-finalist

£450

£250

£80

Losing quarter-finalist

£225

£135

na

2016

Premier Tier

Tier 1

Tier 2

Winner

£1,000

£600

£200

Runner-up

£600

£350

£100

Losing semi-finalist

£300

£175

£50

Losing quarter-finalist

£150

£75

na

paulisi · Tennis legend

There are finally some fixtures on the ITF calendar for Jan,, but it is not complete.

Men have 10k, 10k+H and 25k so far
Women have 10k and 25k

Shhh · Challenger level

Re the British Tour I think its an awkward one. I certainly support the idea where players can go and earn money and get match practise. Most Tier 1 events though only feature a couple of ranked players though, Tier 2 usually none at all. In that concept I dont blame the LTA for not investing as much in prize money.

Of course if they were to raise prize money to attract more players it''d be better but, they then may as well stage 10k futures. Sadly the futures seem to being reduced further as well.

The not dishing out of money, avoiding the comfort zone for players I understand in theory but, I can see precious little eveidence of where the money is being spent, especially in support of the current pro players???? It is an odd situation, and time is ticking by, you cant help wonder what harm is being done.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, Shhh. I don't really approve of mega prize money for the British Tour events - I think the prize money a few years back was daft - and when you see players like Beth using it as a weekly salary, then it doesn't seem that that's what it was meant for (NB not blaming Beth).

I would rather see far more smaller tournaments with the small end of prize money - it should provide a constant springboard and interest for LOTS of players - there should (in an ideal world) be at least five or six tournaments going on most weeks, around the country, with small prize money, so that you create a far bigger pool of interest (players, kids, coaches, everyone....). Spread over two weekends would be better. So club players, kids in school, people in work, whoever can play and participate (mainly in the qualies on weekend 1). And the better ranked players will come in in round two say on Saturday evening of weekend 2.

Then, on top, you keep some of the more prestigious ones with the higher prize money, on a weekly basis, for those quasi-pros.

However, I completely agree - if (as Naomi Cavaday says) there was money absolutely sloshing around at one time, too much to know how to spend it, where is it now? The money-in finances don't seem fundamentally different. So where does it go ?

Spaced · Lower Club Player

paulisi wrote:
There are finally some fixtures on the ITF calendar for Jan,, but it is not complete.

Men have 10k, 10k+H and 25k so far
Women have 10k and 25k

I didn't think they did Men's 25k futures, are these new for 2016? What would be the ranking point allocations?

paulisi · Tennis legend

I think they are replacing the 15k.
Women getting rid of 15k I believe, so both men and women should match

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
I think they are replacing the 15k.
Women getting rid of 15k I believe, so both men and women should match

Biggest problem in the UK for the men is that they are getting rid of the 15k alright, but they are not replacing it with ANYTHING.

paulisi · Tennis legend

ITF calendar is starting to populate a bit more.

I see Wirral and Shrewsbury are on in the same week - fairly sensible as they are only 40mins apart and they can switch officials around. Just have to choose which to watch.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I didn't realise the Glasgow challenger got dropped after just one season. Replaced by a men's 10k