Clay Clay Clay

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Clay Clay Clay

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

In 2018 and 2019 , in the period of July and august , they had 14 clay and 14 hardcourt events, the hardcourts largely North America, a couple China and Japan, and one in Spain and Italy I think.

So it looks like clay has increased slightly - but 6 hardcourt is definitely down!

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Monday 5th of July 2021 09:40:08 AM

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Was expecting some late additions to the calendar in the run up to US qualifying but still no hard court challengers for the 3 weeks leading into it. Thought the USTA would have done something. On the Women's side there is a W100 in the USA.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
Was expecting some late additions to the calendar in the run up to US qualifying but still no hard court challengers for the 3 weeks leading into it. Thought the USTA would have done something. On the Women's side there is a W100 in the USA.

Yep, after this week in Cary, we have Lexington and that is it. I cant remember events in past years by location, Knoxville, Binghampton, Drummondville come to mind in US and Canada as being events in the July/August space that dont seem to be scheduled

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_ATP_Challenger_Tour

Looking at 2019 Challenger Tour, there is actually just Winnetka and Aptos missing from the US events.

Canada is missing their whole series, Gatineau, Winnipeg, Granby and Vancouver - none of those appear. Maybe pro sports arent up and running in Canada , at least at less than the top level?

Shhh · Challenger level

I have been thinking the same Madaman, there is no run up at all for Challenger players looking to enter qualies for US Open. Most strange....and more than a little unfair on them.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

at the top level, however, it is almost overcooked. In direct succession, we have:

Olympics
Washington 500
Toronto 1000
Cinci 1000
US Open GS

All straight after each other with no break...hard to see anyone playing that whole series, be interesting to see how Dan approaches it (would Dan or Cam really forego a Masters week before a Slam?) - Cam in fact is entered into Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, Cinci, US Open as well, of course, Los Cabos this week.

Liam is in fact an alt for qualies in Washington, straight after Tokyo; AIdan is down as an alt for qualies in Lexington Challenger (Liam and Jay withdrew from this event); Jay is in fact entered into San Marino on clay starting August 9th.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, it becomes quite a challenge if they can't get one of the North American Masters fitted in between Wimbledon and the the Olympics.

And this year the Olympics ( and Olympic tennis ) is a week earlier than Rio was. Add in having to arrive early, for quarantine time, and wb 19/07 was too late for a Masters, leaving impractically wb 12/07, immediately after Wimbledon. So they are left with 4 North Ametican hard court weeks between the Olympics tennis and the US Open ( note though that does leave a week on the schedule between the conclusion of Cincinnatti and the start of the US Open, wb 23/08 when ATP 250 Winston-Salem is scheduled ).

On the other hand, yes very unfortunate that there are so few hard court challengers.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 23rd of July 2021 05:35:27 PM