http://www.tennisreporters.net/sdscoop_072906.html

The article is mostly about San Diego but there's info on what is going to happen to the tour is a whole.

Basically

San Diego will no longer be a Tier 1 & will probably cease to exist as a tournament from next year.

Cincinnati will probably become a Tier 1 and become a combined mens & womens event.

The Tier system will be abolished in 2010 and a new A & B system introduced - A level tournaments will have to offer over $1m in prize money in return for increased player commitments from the top 10. All others will be B tournaments that only have to offer $225,000 but will have no top 10 guarantee's.

Pretty radical shake-up. Moving to A & B seems a bit simplistic but I suppose the B tournaments could offer more than $225,000 and hope that attracts the top players. Plus places like Sydney, Eastbourne & New Haven will always do well since they function as slam warm ups.

Thoughts?

Will they shorten the calender as well?

If San Diego will cease to exist from next year, then will it be replaced?
and what other tournaments maybe dropped?

It seems like a good idea making the tour structure simpler, but i suppose we'll have to wait and see if it works or not.

It would be interesting to find out what the players think, as there the ones its going to affect.