Nadal unhappy with clay calendar

Nadal has won three successive titles at the French Open
Rafael Nadal has criticised the changes to the ATP Tour calendar with this year's three clay-court Masters Series events crammed into four weeks.

The usual two-week gap between Monte Carlo and Rome has been cut in half this season.

That means Spain's Nadal, the world's outstanding clay-court player, will now compete at Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona and Hamburg in successive weeks.

Nadal said: "It's an outrageous way to treat European and clay-court players."

The Spaniard added: The truth is the ATP is making our lives almost impossible," said Nadal.

"Moving Miami and Indian Wells back because of college basketball is something I understand because it's very important to them but this is a world tour.

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Will Rafael Nadal win a fourth successive French Open title?

"We only have three Masters Series events and we have to play them with an important tournament like Barcelona all running together.

"I'm tired of complaining about this but the people in charge of this don't share my opinion and I have to respect that."

Last June Nadal becomes the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win three successive titles at the French Open on the clay courts at Roland Garros.



I agree with Nadal. We've talked about the ATP before but I think this Devilliers is probably the worst administrator they ever had - why don't they try to force him out?

I think it's ridiculous, I mean for 3 masters to be crammed into 4 weeks all because of tv scheduling around 'College basketball' is friggin ridiculous.....


Why are the hardcourt seasons so long and the Carpet, clay and grass so short.

Completely agree with him too. But more importantly the top 20 players aagree too and have all signed a petition to seriously question de Villiers job contract extension.

It seems mad to cram so much into a short space, not just for the players but for tennis fans and viewers. Being Masters events they should be spaced out more. These are the good events, too much of a good thing at the same time detracts from it.

Ettiene is a South African pinhead! :angry: He should be trying to sort out the development of the sport in our country more as opposed to making carp ATP decisions.Idiot! :angry:

I disagree with the scheduling too although clay is forgiving and it is unlikely to hurt the players who don't go deep in every tournament like Nadal.

It is not good news for him, surely he will have to pull out of something or fatigue will strike...

That's good news for Federer fans but not Nadal fans..

well, let's be fair - Fed is playing an extra clay court tournament this year, and he is required to play all the master's as well - so i suspect fatigue will probably hit him too at some point being as he will want to go far in every tournament as well. :shrug: I'm not sure sticking that many master's that close together is good news for anyone really :(

No but hey College Basketball should certainly take priority over our sport! :doh:

Does de villiers realise that tennis is also a popular sport and that Federer has been elected sportman of the year (all sport considered) for the last 4 years by most Sport ceremonies around the world?

I only know about college Basketball because the son of a former tennis champion plays in it (Noah)!

I know I'm being exceptionally dumb, but I still don't get this whole college basketball thing. Why has college basketball affected the timing of the tennis season? :shrug:

EDIT: ok, I'm assuming it's because they moved IW and Miami, was that for the TV scheduling? :unsure:

Yes - its a big thing in the US....that's all I know. And since there is currently no great american tennis champions, besides Fish that is, college basketball may get more viewing than Tennis. :rolleyes:

I posted in another forum that I'm glad the players are taking some action. they are not superheroes who can play back-to-back-to-back. I hope they can get that through this Etienne guy's head. :(

Also, sorry folks but I like college basketball-it's way better than the pros.

Oh yeah it will screw all the players basically. But I suppose some think Nadal moreso cos it's his big chance to win points, and I assume he has a lot to defend too.

Mind you it's the poor buggers that are good on grass that I feel most sorry for - with just 2 tournies to play and all. Doesn't look like that will ever change. And I guess Nadal will be affected if he's nto fulyl fit cos he'll have a Wimby final spot to defend after all that clay action.

Basically Jo-Indian Wells and Miami were both pushed back a week because ESPN or some stupid american channel wanted to show the College Basketball and so they had to be pushed back to accommodate for television :rolleyes:

ah, of course, i should have known - the world works around TV these days...... :rolleyes:

College basketball dictating when the tennis master events are held?

Give me a bloody break, get rid of de Villiers!! :doh: :doh:

Nadal is still unhappy,


Page last updated at 17:41 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 18:41 UK

Nadal furious at crowded schedule

Nadal is scheduled to play for four consecutive weeks

Rafael Nadal has criticised tennis chiefs, saying the European tennis calendar is being "destroyed" by the packed schedule.

"These people are destroying Europe and Europe used to be the foundation of the tour," said Nadal, who is playing four events in as many weeks.

The Spaniard kept up his good form by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-3 in the third round of the Barcelona Open.

Earlier, Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins went out of the men's doubles.

The Brits lost their second round clash with Jeff Coetzee and Kevin Ullyett 6-3 7-6 (7-2).

Argentine third seed David Nalbandian also crashed, losing 6-3 6-1 to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

Nadal took just one hour and 45 minutes to beat his friend and compatriot Lopez and never faced a break point.

606: DEBATE
Unless Nadal burns out I can see him winning RG for 6 or 7 years straight

Horsey6
"This is one of my favourite events and playing Feliciano is always tough," said the world number two, who had his left shoulder taped.

But Nadal, who claimed the Monte Carlo title for a fourth time last weekend, has predicted his own form could suffer due to the schedule.

"I think it's completely impossible to play at one's best level for all four tournaments - Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Hamburg," Nadal said.

"You just have to accept this situation, all the players will be the same, they will not be able to play at their high level for all four, I think it's totally impossible."

The ATP has made several changes to the calendar in 2008 to accommodate the Olympic Games in August.

The result is that the clay-court season has become especially congested ahead of this month's French Open.

Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg are all Masters Series events, which automatically count towards a player's ranking.

"I think that when a player loses in the first round or pulls out and they get criticised, the tournament should ring these people (the ATP) and tell them that it is their fault.

"I have some email conversations with these people but it is true that they end up doing what they like and I am getting tired of it all."

American James Blake added: "The Olympics is such a unique experience that we need to make arrangements for but the calendar is too packed and maybe we should take out the Davis Cup in Olympic years.

"You'll see how many matches (Nadal) plays this clay-court season, how many matches guys like (Roger) Federer, (Andy) Roddick, (Novak) Djokovic and myself play throughout the entire year.

"It's probably too much to expect a player to have a lengthy career. It makes it very difficult."

I was intrigued by the BBCs (and Blake's) comment that it was about the Olympics - as far as i can see they will be back on the same schedule as last year by the French Open :shrug: it's been the beginning of the season rather than the end of the season (when you'd expect it) that's been altered.

I have a feeling Nadal might choose to lose today to rest for Rome.

It's really disgusting what they did as I agree with him the spring clay season has always been a great part of the tennis calendar. But the top players will have to sacrify some of the important tounies to stay fresh for the French. We might see a few unexpected losses in Rome or Hamburg.