The ATP printed their vision yesterday for the tour going forwards. The key Elements seem to be:
- the Madrid, Rome and Shanghai events in 2023 and Cinci and Canada in 2025 will all become 96 draw, 12 day events a la IW and Miami.
- the prizeMoney structure and bonuses are being enhanced with greater openness on tournament financials and greater linkage to tournament revenues / profits ; bonuses will go down to top 30 as opposed to top 12
- new governance structure for the council. The tournaments structure is now aligned to tournament status with 2 reps for Masters and one each for 500 and 250. players will be aligned by geography.
- this is phase 1 and is mainly about enhancing the product at the top ie the Masters events
- phase 2 will be about alignment of the game across the factions ie atp, wta, itf and slams
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Friday 10th of June 2022 05:58:56 AM
I kind of agree with the changes but, I don't like the fact that two clay tournaments are being expanded and, much as they want to close the gap to the Slams.....I like the Slams being as special as they are so worry about the long term with that?
I kind of agree with the changes but, I don't like the fact that two clay tournaments are being expanded and, much as they want to close the gap to the Slams.....I like the Slams being as special as they are so worry about the long term with that?
The issue for Monte Carlo and clay is that it all becomes a little crowded and, being frank, the 1 week, smaller 1000 events become a lesser citizen. I think , in due course, they may do away with Monte Carlo as a 1000 and take it down to 500 level, and free up a little space (as the top players wont play it in the same numbers). Although I like MC, they always wanted to reduce its status a few years back.
Even then, I agree, 2 96 draw Masters and a Slam in quick succession is tough and hard for the players and public to follow, IMO.
Paris Indoor is different - having an indoor Masters near season end makes sense and you cant increase the scope of an indoor event to a 96 draw at any venue I can think of, so keeping it at 48 is reasonable and sensible.
They dont seem to suggest the Masters points offering will change, ie the 2000 for a slam and 1000 for a Masters will remain (putting aside whatever happens this year at Wimbledon), hopefully that will be the case, and the closing of the gap will be around the 12 day status. With them remaining as best of 3 set events, that also keeps a big difference - although I wonder if they may try to bring back 5 set finals for the Masters finals?
Honestly, Shhh, I wouldn't worry....... it made me laugh to hear the ATP getting so animated about making the new Masters events 'very similar' (or some such phrase) to the Grand Slams
Yes, they are obviously VERY keen to do so, it's a real thorn in their side that the main events in tennis have nothing to do with them, but from both a financial point of view (as per figures before) and a media interest view (which obviously is linked) the Masters and the Grand Slams are chalk and cheese. And will continue to be so, in my view.
