Premiere league and second league

A few weeks ago, some matches of the Rotterdam ATP 500 indoor tournament were played in front of almost no audience. The atmosphere was so quiet and sleepy that a line judge even forgot to call a ball out.

A most noticeable trend in today's professional tennis is the ever growing difference between Grand Slam tournaments, the ten Masters tournaments and the rest. While all the focus from players, fans, sponsors ans the media is directed towards the biggest monster events, the smaller ones risk losing more and more top names in their draws.

This decreases the interest from the public, it results in the withdrawal of corporate sponsors and finally the sad end of these events, some of which go way back with a long history and traditions. It's a bit like the development of today's cinema culture, where the tiny old theatres around the corner are dying off, making way for the huge complexes in shopping malls, with all the latest technology and preferably at least 15 different screens, but without any of that old cosy atmosphere remaining.

The problem starts at the planning of the yearly calendar, which is forcing top players to participate in the biggest events, thereby setting the base of their relentless schedule. The only option they have is to play or skip the small tournaments which don't give them that many ranking points anyway.

The temptation is of course huge to choose resting over playing whenever they can, and with all the injuries they suffer during the year, it is also understandable. One can accuse the players, these strong and fit athletes in their twenties, of faking their injuries and being too greedy and selfish, but I think the problem is more complicated than this.

So is there any way to save these smaller tournaments before it's too late? I would have to say that considering the present attitude from the sponsors, players, and the Tour itself, it sounds like an impossible mission.

A more even distribution of ranking points, draw sizes and prize money between the tournaments, together with a more sensible schedule and less mandatory events could sound like a welcome solution for real tennis lovers, but then again, it might not fit into the corporate culture of the 21st century. by bm