As we get ready for a fantastic week of tennis in two of Canada?s premier cities at the same time; I?m not convinced it is the best way to showcase our wonderful events.? I know the pros and cons all to well, and nobody can convince me it is the right thing to do to satisfy our tennis starved fans from coast to coast.
There have been many discussions on the subject over the past year and I guess only time will tell.? But call me skeptical ? I think it will be over before we know it and we?ll be wishing we had another week.? There are far too many good players to see them simultaneously in 7 days of action.
The world?s best players aren?t sold on having both the men?s and women?s events running at the same time in different places. While it?s likely to increase the stature of the events in the media, with news about the game?s stars coming out daily, players like Roger Federer think it may be too much in too short a period.
?Clearly I think it?s a bit unfortunate for Canada to have two big events like this at the very same time?You still have two (tournaments) but they?re the same week, you know? I just think it would be nice if you have them spread out like they have been?Is it good to have them back to back? I don?t know. Or is it good to have one in February or one in September? I don?t know. I guess it?s Tennis Canada who really has to answer that question, not me. But I don?t know, maybe it feels like a bigger tournament to some, I?m not sure.?
The idea is too watch as much as possible ? after all, we have world class fields in both venues with so much on the line for many of these superstars.? Imagine this scenario for Friday (quarter-final day).? The top 8 seeds in both draws advance and we are fortunate enough to see ? Sharapova vs. Azarenka, Schiavone vs. Clijsters, Kvitova vs. Zvonareva and Li vs. Wozniacki in Toronto.? Meanwhile, the men also play their quarter-finals ? and if things go according to plan we may witness ? Djokovic vs. Monfils, Federer vs. Almagro, Berdych vs. Nadal and Fish vs.Murray.?
These are 8 great match-ups and none of us will see those matches in their entirety (live) and that is a real shame.? And for those hoping to tape the matches they missed and watch on TV ? well guess what, Rogers Sportsnet (the new broadcaster this year) can?t show everything either.?
The tennis fan will have to make many choices and hope they make the best one depending on the circumstances.? If the events were combined there would be so many choices that you?d be certain to get a good match most of the time.
As a coach, I love to watch the Canadians play in the first few days of both events.? With 15 Canadians scheduled to play, and the new format, I?ll be lucky if I see half of them battle the top players in the world.??
When the events were back-to-back most of the Canadians received tons of air time on TSN ? now with the format changed and a new broadcaster some of our best players will play in complete anonymity.? It simply is not possible to see all of our home grown talent with the current setup.
I have been in the business for over 20 years and many of my friends and colleagues ? who are absolute tennis lovers ? watch all 4 quarter finals inTorontoand then take the trip toMontreal and watch the quarterfinals at Stade Uniprix one week later.? This is a tennis fan?s dream ? and unfortunately, the new format has cut the dream in half.?
You can?t be in two places at once and that?s why I believe the men and women should both be in Montreal or Toronto.? Flip a coin and alternate the sites from year to year.? Make this a grand slam event ? with a couple of differences ? a smaller field, and the men would play best of 3 sets instead of best of 5.?
The players love this event ? it has always received the highest marks when the competitors have filled out their surveys ? put the men and women together and make it like Key Biscayne and they would love it that much more.? This formula has always worked for the fans, players, organizers and sponsors.? The players ? contrary to what the average fan thinks ? want to be together.? It livens the atmosphere ? it makes it more like a grand slam and that is what most of the top ranked players enjoy the most.
The Canadian contingent is especially impressive on the women?s side, where the top 25 women in the world rankings are all slated to take to the court. It?s a field that Kim Clijsters thinks elevates Toronto?s tournament ? Clijsters believes this tournament is on par with the grand slams in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York City.
?It?s great to hear that the Top 25 has entered. It only shows how we all look at the tournament. It?s a big tournament leading up to the U.S. Open, obviously. To me, when I?m preparing for the U.S. Open, what I think about first is I want to be ready to play well in Toronto. I enjoy it here. But at the same time, you really want to well there because it?s such a prestigious tournament and it?s built up such a reputation ? I definitely schedule it in my program to try and peak there. That?s definitely the first, kind of, big test that you want to do well.?
Quarter final day at the Rogers Cup (or any day for that matter) ? whether it?s in TorontoorMontreal? is something to be savored ? almost like a fine wine.? But now with a smorgasbord of tennis ? an all you can eat approach ? this will not be possible.
And once again, it?s the fans that will lose out!
?Written by Michael Emmett
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Source: http://mayfairclubs.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/rogers-cup-should-adopt-grand-slam-format/
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