By Mike McIntyre
Welcome to the new and improved ATP World Tour. Don't worry if you think you've gone to a Star Trek site, the stars and planets are part of the Tour's new 'Feel It' campaign. A variety of changes to the tour have been implemented this year to facilitate fan understanding and the player's health (and finances too!) Foremost amongst the changes are a re-classification of tournaments into ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 500, and ATP World Tour 250 events. The numbers represent how many rankings points the winners will accumulate. I hope this new system doesn't give the 250 events an inferiority complex but it does help fans distinguish the importance of each tourney. There is also a $6 million bonus pool should players in the top 30 fulfill their playing obligations of 4 Grand Slams and 8 Masters 1000 events. As well, there as rankings consequences that no-shows will be faced with. Direct entrance players who do not play in a tournament they are entered will receive a score of zero in their rankings. We'll have to wait and see if the changes are successful at increasing player participation and promoting the sport worldwide, but so far I like what I see.
As for the first week on the schedule, there are three 250-level tournaments to kick start 2009.
The 32 player draw is offering a total of $450,000 in prize money and features Nikolay Davydenko as the number one seed. You can bet on him (pun intended) to go far as there is a lack of competitive players in the field. Keep an eye on young Marin Cilic the third seed to provide the stiffest challenge. Also of note is two time champion Carlos Moya, who despite his advanced age (32) has always performed well at this tournament. A wildcard to keep an eye on is Somdev Devvarman who finished his impressive collegiate career last year and had some success in his first few Challenger ventures. I saw the kid play in Washington DC and he showed some potential as he reached the quarterfinals after breezing through three qualifying rounds.
Previously held in Adelaide, this mark's the first year that the Aussie Open tune-up is being held in Brisbane. The new $82 million Tennis Center in Queensland is ready to go and the Pat Rafter Arena that seats 5,500 will be the impressive main stage. Interestingly enough, Rafter never won the tournament while on tour - but still remains the pride and joy of Queensland.
This 32 player field is boasting a prize total of $484,700 and features Novak Djokovic as the number one seed. At the pre-tournament press conference Djokovic addressed the added pressure of returning to Australia.
“Of course there’s going to be a certain amount of expectations and pressure as the Grand Slam champion but I will try to use it in my favor and look at it as a positive challenge.”
He also seems to be aware that he needs to act more like a champion this year when he said, “This is a professional sport so if you intend to be one of the best players in the world you have to learn to cope with that pressure and accept it as a part of your life.” Having new years resolutions is great, isn't it?
Part of the decision for the new facility and joint event with the WTA Tour is to help compete against the growing prominence of the warm-up events in the Middle East. Speaking in 2006 when the Brisbane venue was being announced, Tennis Australia's chief executive Steve Wood mentioned a big reason for the switch.
"One of the reasons we are doing this is that there's a rise of more lucrative overseas tournaments in the lead-up to the Australian Open offering increasingly attractive alternatives to the top players looking to prepare for the first grand slam."
The field does have some big names to show for it including Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Marcos "What have you done for us lately" Baghdatis.
Promising youngster Kei Nishikori is also in attendance as well as American comeback hopeful Taylor Dent.
With more than double the prize money of the other two tournaments, the event in Doha, Qatar boasts a total purse of $1,110,250. Now I can see why Nadal, Federer, Murray and Roddick all started the season in the Middle East. I guess Davydenko bolted Abu Dhabi for Chennai thinking he had a better shot at the title there. This is without a doubt the most impressive 32 man field in terms of "big name" players.
Defending champ Andy Murray will be looking to build on his recent exhibition success in Abu Dhabi where he knocked off James Blake, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal in succession. Federer has also won this event, twice before, in 2005 and 2006.
Rafa and Roger were onboard a traditional Arabian Dhow in the Doha Bay on Sunday to promote the event on a floating mini-court. I gotta hand it to the organizers in the Middle East - they know how to create a buzz.
One other name that caught my eye in the draw was the Magician, Fabrice Santoro. I thought I had heard he was retiring after 2008 but apparently I was mistaken. I'd love to have seats to his first round match against Rafa!
One last important fact to note about the opening week of the season is that the number two ranking is up for grabs. Novak Djokovic is a mere 20 points behind Federer and has the ability to overtake him this week if he outperforms the Swiss master. Lots to talk about as we get ready to play. Enjoy the show!
As a fellow scot Andy Murray will be right there fighting for top spot this year and i'm quiently confident he has the game and will power do go the distance.
Go on Andy were behind you all the way to the top.
Posted by: steff32d | April 07, 2009 at 05:15 PM