I've never been a massive fan of the so-called 'Hall of Champions' Seniors Tour, finding it a bit too cosy and nostalgic for my liking. However, I appreciate it is quite a popular event, and McEnroe in particular has done a lot of work to get it established.

McEnroe now has attacked the tour's organisers for their decision to allow Rios on it, and I've got to say I'm with Johnny Mac on this one. Rios is 30 years old, and does not belong on this tour - its ridiculous that a fit and healthy 30 year old is competing with 40somethings!

Personally, I feel that the seniors tour may split in two on this...on the one side, there will be the hard-hitting younger players like Rios, Ivanisevic, etc, and on the other side there will be the likes of McEnroe, Bahrami, Cash, playing a mix of 'serious' tennis, and the comedy tennis, more light-hearted stuff that seems to go down so well with the fans.

As for Rios, he should be playing ATP level tennis, either in singles or for doubles.

What does everyone else reckon? To me, its a farce that McEnroe had to play Rios in a seniors event!!!

We discussed this on another thread but in short, does it really matter what age one needs to be as we just want to see guys we liked play again...if that.

On the other side, I am pretty sure Rios would play the ATP tour if he really could. There is much more money to be made there but as we have seen with many players, they need to be 110% fit...they simply can't afford to be 80 or 90 %. Guga or the Scud are trying to come back but frankly I don't believe they ll do anything in the main circuit and not even sure they can win a satellite. So once you have been number one or win slam it is not a nice propect to sweat it out with younger fitter players in the satellite tour.

On the other hand, McEnroe v Rios was a bit unfair, sure but only if we cared about the result, but as I did not care and no one should in my view, it was nice to see them play together and not have to wait until Mac is 52.

The problem is the $100k winner takes it all that puts a strange taste to all those players out there, whose main purpose should be to entertain. They shoudl reduce this prize and spread the rest in entry fees.

Tenez, the age doesn't matter if its just a straightforward exhibition match. As an exhibition match, I quite like the idea of Johnny Mac taking on players much younger than himself. The trouble is, and I think you alluded to this - this event is a serious one - players are competing hard, and there's a lot of money at stake. If seniors tennis is to be a competitive circuit (and with the standard of play and money on offer it seems to be heading that way), it should be run as such, and not have 30 year olds in on it.

I really appreciate Rios' talent, and its great to be able to watch him again, but the seniors event isn't really the place for him to do that...

Apologies if this had been discussed before - I looked for a thread discussing this but couldn't find it - whereabouts is it?

Here is the link.

http://z3.invisionfree.com/Centre_Court/in...wtopic=1643&hl=

I think it is an exhibition in disguise. I was at the Royal Albert Hall 2 or 3 years ago and Forget was clearly robed on some ball calling against McEnroe but the guy is mature enough and did not really care. I am a big fan of McEnroe's game but frankly his competitive attitude at his age really gets on my nerve (though i am happy it keeps him in shape - though I wish he had this same dedication 20 years ago) and I much prefer Borg's lay back attitude about it. Because after all it is an exhibition and shoudl stay that way. Unless we want to start to have those guys tested for dope like in the main circuit.

Flipsake!

Rios is 2 years younger that Henman! :yikes: :yikes:

Why did the organisers let rios play?

To get more bums on seats?


Because Rios paid them to?

No affencce!

But how many people would pay to see rios?
He is lifeless!

Here's what I reckon they should do...

Effectively split up what is now the seniors tour into the following:

A tour, using existing criteria, open to all those former players who are over 30 - get power players like Rios, Sampras, Ivanisevic, Agassi, Courier, Haarhuis, etc on it, and raise the profile - its a v good standard, and it should be publicised more, have serious prize money, etc.

Another tour, using wooden rackets, with more of a fun/nostalgic element - to include lots of doubles, the likes of Bahrami, plus perhaps some of the more older seniors players - would be good to get the likes of Newcombe, Nastase, Noah, etc involved. The emphasis on this event would v much be on the fun angle, with interaction with the crowd.

At the moment, the seniors tour is trying to do 2 things, and it isn't really clear what its there for...

Good idea but in my view the "power" players should also be taken lightly as none of them (or very few) will make the effort to keep into shape. They all (should) have a life next to this Tour and thereofre should only be treated as a fun event.

Even if my 90s idol (Goran) was finally to beat Sampras on regular basis, what would it mean? Would I care? certainly not. Their career is all done and dusted and the idea of competition at this age is in itself a risible concept and they know it. After al they are champions and have enough big egos not to become laughable stock.

Besides is there enough money out there for 2 senior tours (actually 3 if we include Courier)?

I think things are ok the way they are (except maybe this $100k winner takes it all prize).

:unsure: Has Borg been playing on the senior circuit?

I know he has played in some but very few of them recently.

It sure was ridiculous that Rios was allowed to play.
Whoever allowed this really should be fired IMO.
I mean Agassi was fighting it out with the guys at like 36 years and we have Rios at 30 playing against people old like Johonny Mac.
Pretty ridiculous/

Rios attitude stunk also :angry:

Maybe that should be stank.

What would make the seniors tour more interesting would be to make all players use a wooden racquet. Be interesting to see the likes of Ivanisevic trying to serve with a wooden racquet!

Good idea. I reckon however it would be easier for Goran to serve with a wooden racket than for Agassi and Rios to play their short swings -early-after-the bounce shots.

btw, Rios is genius!

Surely the seniors tour should be 35+ - 35 being a cutoff point almost always for main tour players to keep playing main tour tennis

The Senior tour is a farce. Once we realise that we can then enjoy it whatever the age of the players.

I would actually like to see Nadal v Sampras play, Rios v Nadal, more of Federer Sampras and even Federer v McEnore.....just for the sake of watching those guys play together and certainly not to find out who is the best at holding a racket in one hand and a walking stick in the other....but how roughly their games match up.


.....Unless some of you would prefer a Harhuis v the Carl Uve Steeb encounter who indeed fit the Official Senior "regulations".