Again every year comes the « famous » questioning about the professional tennis ATP calendar…*
Complains from the players …usually top players, (who cares about others) are behind the appeal for a tour overhaul. Nadal as well as Djokovic are pleading for a revision of the calendar: shorten the season and protect players from burnout and injury… “The season is too long”
Acknowledge of this situation by the ATP tour…
It is not the first time… now ATP is seeking a “meaningful way to lengthen the off season that would allow players more time for rest, fitness and working on their game”
Great! Keep going…”the issue of the season has been around for a long time …” indeed? “And there is no quick fix, but we are committed to giving it real consideration”
Consideration? In the sense of Thought, Reflection Contemplation? We hope more the sense of Importance … “the health and well being of players is a tour issue – preserving and extending the playing careers of our top players is critical for the long term good of the sport”
Yes, like others professional sport …just having a off season period…now we have to find a deal with two governing bodies (ATP men’s tennis tour) and ITF (Grand Slams) and all the promoters who are running “circus”… and the making their living out of it … becausewe could also say “the health and well being of tennis tournaments promoters is a tour issue – preserving and extending the revenues of our top directors is critical for the long term good of the sport”
* remember the article at the end of 2008….
Give them a break…
tennis is all around year sport…tennis is not a seasonal sport…
Time for for resting and getting fit are important. Aren’t they ? so when ? one month per year…
What do the Association of Professional Tennis (ATP) do about it?
More mandatory tournaments, and an 11 months of the year program..
Too much?
Perhaps, many of the players are complaining and the end of the season is not too great for tennis, with Rafa Nadal withdrew from the Masters and the Davis cup, injuries that have hounded Shanguai with Federer carrying a back problem Del Potro a slip toe nail… Roddick and his ankle injury…
When I read that the "board decided taking into account everyone’s perspective that this would be the best way forward". ATP official Brad Drewett said. I am still a bit skeptical…
Let’s say that the board decided what it is best for their members…
Who are they?
There are seven members of the ATP board: Three player representatives, three tournament reps and the executive chairman.
The ATP Board includes Etienne de Villiers (current Executive Chairman and President of ATP) along with tournament representatives, Željko Franulović, Charlie Pasarell and Graham Pearce. It also includes three player representatives with two-year terms, Ivan Ljubičić as the European representative (until the end of 2009 term), as Iggy Jovanovic the International representative and Justin Gimelstob as the Americas representative.
The player representatives are elected by the ATP Player Council.
The 10-member ATP Player Council delivers advisory decisions to the Board of Directors, which has the power to accept or reject the Council’s suggestions. The Council consists of four players who are ranked within top 50 in singles (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and a vacancy), two players who are ranked between 51 and 100 in singles (Peter Luczak and Michael Berrer), two top 100 players in doubles (Yves Allegro and Eric Butorac) and two at-large members (David Martin and Martín García).
Let’s see what does a tournament member said?
Indian Wells Tournament Director and ATP Board member Charlie Pasarell said, “The calendar changes announced are immensely important for the new ATP World Tour. This is change that is already unlocking the potential of men’s professional tennis with growing revenues, rising attendances and a number of new partners signing up to be involved in men’s tennis. Men’s tennis has never before experienced these kinds of levels of investment or the huge boosts in prize money that our sport will enjoy from 2009; these are exciting times for the ATP Tour.”
Prize money, growing revenues, new partner, rising attendance… I see
Let’s see what the players are thinking?
Nadal said “our complaint is that we have representatives on the board who do not represent the players. They’re representing the head of the ATP."
"it is too much.. it doesn’t make a lot of sense…at a certain point you hope they start respecting our opinions a bit more"
Oh I see…
Organizations often don’t see the importance of the human element…
Well, 2009 might have some more debate off court in perspective…
Good recovery for all you guys. Enjoy your vacation, or rehab…
Enjoy the new season 2009!
Jacques Hervet 