2025 ATP General News

[kskate2]

Both Ben and Vicky come from a set down to win their maiden 1000 level title over more accomplished players.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Both Ben and Vicky come from a set down to win their maiden 1000 level title over more accomplished players.

Ben leap frogs Novak into 6th ranking with his win though Novak hasn't played much to date

 

[Fiero425]

Ben #6 in the World push'n Novak to #7 who's skipping all warm-ups B4 the US Open! There are thoughts he could retire afterwards to Greece!

 

[Front242]

Ben #6 in the World push'n Novak to #7 who's skipping all warm-ups B4 the US Open! There are thoughts he could retire afterwards to Greece!

Well he said he'd definitely like to go to Wimbledon at least one more time so unless he has an awful USO, I doubt it

 

[Kieran]

No, Djokovic and Pospisil. You don't agree that the money needs to be better allocated in the game?

The men’s game? Why do you think it has to be?

My pet irritation is when we hear women complaining about equal pay in tennis. They’re lucky enough as it is…

 

[Moxie]

The men’s game? Why do you think it has to be?

Because $5M is a lot for one person, when players at the lower end struggle to pay the expensive life of a professional tennis player, and then actually make money. We've talked about this recently. I thought you agreed with that.

My pet irritation is when we hear women complaining about equal pay in tennis. They’re lucky enough as it is…

When was the last time you heard a female tennis player talk about equal pay? Seriously....?

 

[Kieran]

Because $5M is a lot for one person, when players at the lower end struggle to pay the expensive life of a professional tennis player, and then actually make money. We've talked about this recently. I thought you agreed with that.

I don’t remember the discussion - seriously - and I’m not opposed to it, but nor am I in favour of the almost socialistic way that goons like Nick push it. Recently he was complaining about the low pay for lower ranked players while also in the same breath calling for the season to end after the USO. So they don’t get to play?

Like, make it make sense.

Tennis is ultimately a Darwinian example. You eat your way up. I think that tennis can probably do better for lower ranked players - and already does - but it has to also look after the Big Draw players who fund everything.

When was the last time you heard a female tennis player talk about equal pay? Seriously....?

It still gets mentioned and the answer is still the same: if the WTA wants equal play for their members, then let them pay it. I have no problem with that, but if they’re not paying their own members equal pay, it’s because the money isn’t there…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Quite frankly the overall quality of play for a Masters 1000 at Toronto this year was a 'snooze fest'
Even the final wasnt high quality at all, quite frankly the women in Monteral out shone the men this year
Next year when the calendar changes there will be a couple of weeks gap from Wimbledon to Canada, hopefully we wont see the many withdrawals like we did this year, in saying that I understand why players didnt want to compete, as there wasnt much time for rest from the grass going straight to the hard courts.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Because $5M is a lot for one person, when players at the lower end struggle to pay the expensive life of a professional tennis player, and then actually make money. We've talked about this recently. I thought you agreed with that.

The lower end players can get a job outside of tennis. Billie Jean King had a job outside of tennis.

 

[don_fabio]

Toronto semis and finals overlapping with Cincinnati 1st rounds is a complete stupidity. Just to organise this nonsense of extended Masters format.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I don’t remember the discussion - seriously - and I’m not opposed to it, but nor am I in favour of the almost socialistic way that goons like Nick push it. Recently he was complaining about the low pay for lower ranked players while also in the same breath calling for the season to end after the USO. So they don’t get to play?

Like, make it make sense.

Tennis is ultimately a Darwinian example. You eat your way up. I think that tennis can probably do better for lower ranked players - and already does - but it has to also look after the Big Draw players who fund everything.

Toronto semis and finals overlapping with Cincinnati 1st rounds is a complete stupidity. Just to organise this nonsense of extended Masters format.

The schedule between the French Open and the US Open is too bunched up. We either need to spread it out (and move tournaments in the fall schedule to November/December after the ATP Finals), or make the fall schedule a playoff. The schedule as is doesn't really do it for me. I really don't want to watch two mid players with nothing really at stake in the middle of the American football season.

 

[Kieran]

The schedule between the French Open and the US Open is too bunched up. We either need to spread it out (and move tournaments in the fall schedule to November/December after the ATP Finals), or make the fall schedule a playoff. The schedule as is doesn't really do it for me. I really don't want to watch two mid players with nothing really at stake in the middle of the American football season.

Nah, you can make an elastic lose it’s elasticity. The great challenges for great tennis players take place during summer. They need to peak for this. Be tough in Rome, Paris, London. Continue onwards cross the Atlantic, to New York. Top players aren’t interested in easy shortcuts. They try
reach the station of the gods. We can’t compromise on that. Greatness can’t be negotiated. Oftentimes it’s improbable. Then somebody comes along and soars into the books. We recognise it when we see it.

We know what it isn’t, too…

 

[Moxie]

The lower end players can get a job outside of tennis. Billie Jean King had a job outside of tennis.

Thus guaranteeing that they will always be lower-end players? BJK and many others had jobs outside of tennis back when there was no money in the game. And there was an off-season to have a job IN.

Why does the USO need to raise the winner's purse to $5M, from $3.6M. Isn't $3.6M enough for the winner? Seems to me they just like the idea of setting a record. Why not take that $1.4M and distribute it through the players per round? I'm not trying to be some commie just distributing the wealth for the sake of fairness. When younger and lower-ranked players make decent money, then can afford coaches, physios, and they can afford to practice every day at the level they need to in today's game. That is better for tennis: better competition.

Also, these huge winner's purses increase our ticket prices. The USO is becoming untouchable for the average fan. Even the grounds passes, which were $30-$60 not SO long ago are a luxury now...over $200.

 

[Moxie]

The schedule between the French Open and the US Open is too bunched up. We either need to spread it out (and move tournaments in the fall schedule to November/December after the ATP Finals), or make the fall schedule a playoff. The schedule as is doesn't really do it for me. I really don't want to watch two mid players with nothing really at stake in the middle of the American football season.

I don't completely understand your reasoning. You keep trying to add important events to the fall, yet you complain that the fall calendar interferes with your American football viewing. I honestly don't think there's a huge cross-over between tennis fans and NFL fans. Not enough to change the calendar, so forget that.

Otherwise, I agree with Kieran...the tennis calendar is very good and exciting, particularly March through September. Players are responsible for their own schedules, but they have to be fit and ready for the hard part. Clay through grass is a slog. They already softened it up for them by adding a week between RG and Wimbledon. I do not like the idea of making the fall a "play-off." A YEC and a Next-Gen championship is enough. You're talking about rejiggering the calendar and the point system. It's not going to happen.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Arthur Fils has withdrawn from Winston- Salem tournament which dosent bode well for his participation at the USO
Next in : De Jong

 

[Kieran]

Thus guaranteeing that they will always be lower-end players? BJK and many others had jobs outside of tennis back when there was no money in the game. And there was an off-season to have a job IN.

Why does the USO need to raise the winner's purse to $5M, from $3.6M. Isn't $3.6M enough for the winner? Seems to me they just like the idea of setting a record. Why not take that $1.4M and distribute it through the players per round? I'm not trying to be some commie just distributing the wealth for the sake of fairness. When younger and lower-ranked players make decent money, then can afford coaches, physios, and they can afford to practice every day at the level they need to in today's game. That is better for tennis: better competition.

Also, these huge winner's purses increase our ticket prices. The USO is becoming untouchable for the average fan. Even the grounds passes, which were $30-$60 not SO long ago are a luxury now...over $200.

That’s crazy, but not unexpected, but tournaments need to remember to include the fans in their pricey calculations. Corporate people aren’t always the correct constituency for tennis. It needs its less wealthy obsessives too - like us, to be frank.

Has the USO only increased the winners money, or have they also increased the prize money across the board?

 

[Moxie]

That’s crazy, but not unexpected, but tournaments need to remember to include the fans in their pricey calculations. Corporate people aren’t always the correct constituency for tennis. It needs its less wealthy obsessives too - like us, to be frank.

Exactly. People with free corporate tickets may, or may not go, on the day. You need your die-hard fans who know about tennis. They should squeeze their corporate sponsors harder, and make a selling point of keeping ticket prices down. Their sponsors are the likes of Mercedez Benz, Cadillac, Rolex, Chase, Morgan Stanley, IBM and Moet & Chandon. Also consumed by rich people. Pass the cost along to them!

Has the USO only increased the winners money, or have they also increased the prize money across the board?

They did, but by a much smaller percentage in the qualifying and earlier rounds. Finals and SFs increased about 39%, whereas 1st round only by 10%. I don't need to tell you that a smaller percentage of a much smaller amount of money is much less money. First round gets a raise of $10K US, which is not nothing, but qualifying rounds only go up a $1-2K, which is barely a cost of living increase. Obviously, tennis, like all sports, rewards winning, but I think they could have done better.

 

[Kieran]

Exactly. People with free corporate tickets may, or may not go, on the day. You need your die-hard fans who know about tennis. They should squeeze their corporate sponsors harder, and make a selling point of keeping ticket prices down. Their sponsors are the likes of Mercedez Benz, Cadillac, Rolex, Chase, Morgan Stanley, IBM and Moet & Chandon. Also consumed by rich people. Pass the cost along to them!

They did, but by a much smaller percentage in the qualifying and earlier rounds. Finals and SFs increased about 39%, whereas 1st round only by 10%. I don't need to tell you that a smaller percentage of a much smaller amount of money is much less money. First round gets a raise of $10K US, which is not nothing, but qualifying rounds only go up a $1-2K, which is barely a cost of living increase. Obviously, tennis, like all sports, rewards winning, but I think they could have done better.

It is a predicament of modern sports, that when they become so successful, that success breeds even greater success - and wealth - which makes the sport become more exclusive almost by necessity. There are finite ways to watch and that makes it more expensive - a vicious circle which further alienates hardcore fans at the expense of serving the moneyed types who like to be seen there.

That's probably a bit crass but it happens. My bro is wealthy and he had corporate seats for me and him to watch the WS in the women's semis on the Thursday in 2001 when I was there, and his useless dumbass (now ex-)missus wanted to be seen there so I got bumped so she could sit in the ringside box. Bear in mind I bought the tickets in advance to bring them both to the men's final on Sunday and when Agassi began to climb back a little in the final against Pete, she loudly whined that if the match went to a fifth, she's leaving.

Okay, that's a personal anecdote but we all know it happens. Maybe on Monday she was gloating to her pals that she was at the final. Though we were in Row X, and I furtively glanced a few times hoping her nose would start bleeding. Nobody would have helped her cos they were all too busy watching tennis..

 

[Moxie]

It is a predicament of modern sports, that when they become so successful, that success breeds even greater success - and wealth - which makes the sport become more exclusive almost by necessity. There are finite ways to watch and that makes it more expensive - a vicious circle which further alienates hardcore fans at the expense of serving the moneyed types who like to be seen there.

That's probably a bit crass but it happens. My bro is wealthy and he had corporate seats for me and him to watch the WS in the women's semis on the Thursday in 2001 when I was there, and his useless dumbass (now ex-)missus wanted to be seen there so I got bumped so she could sit in the ringside box. Bear in mind I bought the tickets in advance to bring them both to the men's final on Sunday and when Agassi began to climb back a little in the final against Pete, she loudly whined that if the match went to a fifth, she's leaving.

Okay, that's a personal anecdote but we all know it happens. Maybe on Monday she was gloating to her pals that she was at the final. Though we were in Row X, and I furtively glanced a few times hoping her nose would start bleeding. Nobody would have helped her cos they were all too busy watching tennis..

I get that this is a personal anecdote, but how awful of your sister-in-law to shove you out of a great match, with you, such a tennis fan, and having traveled to New York to see the tennis! And she didn't even care about the tennis, clearly. Wow. I guess this is part of why she's an "ex."

But it is a microcosm of a larger story, which is that some people want to go for the cachet of it. The US Open should take a lesson from Wimbledon, though, and figure out a way to make a certain amount of tickets available to the dedicated fans who aren't rich.

 

[Kieran]

I get that this is a personal anecdote, but how awful of your sister-in-law to shove you out of a great match, with you, such a tennis fan, and having traveled to New York to see the tennis! And she didn't even care about the tennis, clearly. Wow. I guess this is part of why she's an "ex."

But it is a microcosm of a larger story, which is that some people want to go for the cachet of it. The US Open should take a lesson from Wimbledon, though, and figure out a way to make a certain amount of tickets available to the dedicated fans who aren't rich.

I think it’s hard to get tickets for Wimbledon too. It certainly is for the final. The 2001 final was famous for that, when it played on the Monday and the great unwashed could enter. The atmosphere was legendary!

But I don’t know what it’s like now…