Ruud finds financial and logistical flaws in having Rome and Madrid span two weeks
ATPSunday, 09 April 2023 at 14:30
Casper Ruud has voiced his dissatisfaction with the conversion of the forthcoming ATP 1000 tournaments into two-week events.
The Norwegian tennis player was quite clear in his dislike for the format of the 2023 Madrid Open and the 2023 Italian Open, which mirrors the structure of the Sunshine Double comprising the Indian Wells and Miami Open. The elongated format, aimed at enhancing competitiveness and offering more chances to players, has elicited a mixed response overall. While some view it as a favourable move for the sport, others, such as Ruud, contend that it could pose extra challenges, particularly for high-ranked players.
Ruud emphasized the potential logistical problems that could arise for players who experience early exits from the Madrid tournament. He explained if they lose early they would be ineligible to participate in a Challenger tournament during the second week due to their ranking:
"A player like Schwartzman and Fritz, if they lose early
in Madrid, they can't play a Challenger in the 2nd week because they
are Top 10. They can't just comeback to Argentina or the United States
so they have to pay for their teams for 2 weeks in Europe."
It's a change that will come to most Masters events in the future however Monte-Carlo is keeping it's 56-player format.
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- FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
- They can go down together!mandoist15-09-2024
