Based on the number of withdrawals and seeds losing in Cincy, is it time the ATP looked at the schedule for Master's series events?

With a number of back-to-back master's events throughout the year, are we - as fans - wrong to expect the players to play at such a high standard for two weeks running? Or should players of their standard be better prepared?

Does it rob the fans of seeing some of the top stars when so many are injured, or does it simply allow younger players to get a chance on the big-stage?

Should the ATP be especially wary of putting masters back-to-back in the run up to slam events, as players are more likely to pull out, so as to be fit for the slams?

What does everyone think?

They did their best to accomodate by giving top seeds a 1st round bye and having finals in best of 3 instead of 5 but obviously, this is not enough, especially so close from the USO.

Federer for instance must be in 2 thoughts at the moment. Making up for points on the race and entry ranking or get also an early exit for a better preparation for the Slam which we know, he won't compromise about.

I really thought yesterday, as I wrote in another thread, that there may be a conspiration from the top European players about deVilliers wanting to lessen ATMs in Europe in favour of the US. Today and tomorrow will bring more light about this as they could not make it too obvious either.

Hmm, good question!

Like Tenez says, the tournaments do do their best by providing byes etc but it's still not fair on the players, who are tired, or on the fans who want to see the top players play and play well not just turning up to honour the commitment.

I know it's difficult to re-jig the calendar, but if there was some way of changing the schedule so that, e.g. in the US Open series, there are still two masters events but not straight after the other. Like I said, I know that this would be extremely difficult and would have to be introduced via a long-term plan due to current contracts with certain tournies etc but it may work better then.

Re: fitness- Yes players of their standard should be prepared for back to back tournaments but when it's a big tournament like the masters and also involves travelling etc it's understandable that the players, at times, would do themselves more good by resting.

The problem with this is that players have to give 100 if not 110% every match. It is not like in the 80s where the top 4 were quite a bit above the rest and the game was at half the pace of today. We saw yesterday how great Moya can play if a player only gives 95%. I am sure it was not obvious for many that Djoko was only giving 95%, as it was not obvious for all the Murray fans last year when he beat Fed. This is because a slight drop of form and you go down 100 place in the ranking. So in that respect we cannot really ask them to be prepared for too many back to back matches...especially one week away from a grand slam.

So yes better scheduling is needed and as you say, this is not easy otherwise it would have been done already.

Was just gonna add to this that it never seemed to be a problem in the 80's 90's with Major tournies back to back but I think Tenez has just answered my input fairly solidly.

There must be a lot more stress on the body these days with all players at such a high similar standard.

I was watching the Moy/Del Potro match on the www TMS channel and the commentators were also saying exactly the same: Much more physical nowadays with players carrying many nagging injuries we are not even aware of.

Having said that I was surprised to read Federer says in his yesterday interview that he woudl rather play Montreal and Cincy back to back than having a week in the middle. !?!?! Was it irony? The text does not mention it.

I was just going to post the same --- just read it in his official interview on the Cincy website. Well, last time he wasn't happy about playing them back-to-back, and suggested they should give the top players some byes. Now they've done it, so perhaps he's happy?

He also said that he thinks it's feasible to play the Olympics, both Masters Series and the USO next year.

I think he'll keep saying that as long as wins! lol

I am sure it is possible to play the whole thing...but to win the lot? This is another matter.

I think players have to be carefull about what they say about tournaments as they are their bread and butter. If Fed were to say it is impossible, then we would know already they would miss some. In a way, it s probably better to do a Federer or a Djoko (that is lose early) when things get tough and leave the schedule and integrity of the tournament untouched.

At the end of the day, an early loss in a TMS is not the end of the world and could happen anyway whether the player is fresh or not. I guess it was a bit annoying last year for Fed as he was on a winning streak but in retrospect, I am sure he does not care.

Given the strange results this week with only Fed still standing in the big faves after 3 days, I'd say somethign is wrong.

Anyway as a fan I'd rather they paced them out. I'm nto lucky enough to see them co sI don't have SKY TV, but if I did I'd rather my tennis big tournies be staggered throughotu the year.

There should at least be a week apart i think, although its probably not possible with the sponsors demands etc and the overall schedule of the tour. It can get a bit taxing for the players, particulary at this time of the year where they're playing a lot of tourny's inbetween the master's series as well. I mean look at Djokovic, absolute spent when he came to cincinatti after his gruelling win in montreal.

I think one week between them wouldnt be a bad idea :)

Well if you guys watched Federer Vs Bagddatis yesterday it was appauling.The quality of the tennis was dismal to say the least and they both looked tired. they really should have a gap in between the events. I for one would love Federer to win all TMS at least once! But above all I would like strong tennis!

I think it probably had more to do with the conditions though, than with them being tired. :shrug:

PS. I think it's "appalling" (no "u"). I'm mentioning it only because I've seen it in a view posts by different people recently.

That's so unlucky MJT.....correcting someone while making your own spelling mistakes. ;) :P

:doh:

roflmao

I agree with this. I guess we (exceptions left aside) don't have any idea how hot and humid it is on the Cincinnati courts. Roger's comparison with Dubai is a bit of macho talk, even Rafa admitted he had problems with the conditions.
It's like going on a holiday and being exposed to much hotter temperatures; all your movements will slow down without even noticing it. And that was the case yesterday; the ball was travelling too fast for both men as their coordination appeared a bit out of tune due to the tough conditions