Quite so.

Great post!

Nothing new. This has been going on for quite some time and is, at this point, a necessity for lower ranked events.

No, it's nothing new, but it doesn't make it any less repugnant. The very least the ATP could do is put a cap on how much tournaments can offer apart from actual prize money.

I am ecstatic you had the gumption to write a blog such as this. Oh how I railed and I waited to read this somewhere for a long, long while.

Is it not astonishingly poor form when the ATP is leeching funds every which way, putting many a lower ranked player well into the poor house? The very top group continues to run to the bank to deposit their cheques, but either fail to report to a tournament or barely disguise a tanked effort. The appearance fees are outrageous as is, the very idea that they may exceed actual prize money tests my ability to keep my anger at bay.

Good for you Cheryl. This blog should be seen by many a decision maker at that chaotic place.

Certain publications had better prepare to receive a copy of this one. Courageous blog that is dead on. I shake my head at the current state of the ATP. We could be here all night long discussing this- Cheryl is right, the brass must put a cap on the money right now. The company was eyeball deep in the hole last year- they need to fix the system; it's broken.

maybe,i'm missing a point or don't get to the article very well (my english is not perfect yet,i'm sorry) but i don't seem to get the point here.of course,the top players will be paid extra money,there's nothing wrong with that! just look at the football players and the money they get! they're much more ridiciulous than that!

The issue, I think, is the skewed distribution of money in tennis. It's one of the most popular sports in the world, yet very few (compared to other sports) can actually make enough money. The top players are making millions just to show up, while many of those ranked 150-200 are struggling to break even.

Another issue is of course that many smaller tournaments will never find the resources to attract the top players. I'm pretty sure that tennis as a sport would benefit at lot more if Nadal, Federer, Djokovic etc. were to play in less developed cities/countries than Dubai, for example. Getting more people interested in the sport and more kids to grab a raquet and play.

sisterofnight, I understand what you're saying. Footballers are ridiculously overpaid. The problem with this trend in tennis is that young promising athletes are not going to pick a sport in which there is little money to be made. These appearance fees eat up the bankroll of the tournaments - which means alot less prize money. And that's not even bringing up the issue that those top players cash their sizable checks even when they put in a half-hearted effort. I'm no tennis purist by any stretch of the imagination, but that just stinks to me.

Imposing an appearance fee cap is an awesome idea, although it could possibly open the door for even more under-the-table monetary exchanges

If you ask me, appearance fees are already underhanded.

Gah....I'm just so sick of sports being all about money! It's like the "image" changes for Rafa...who the hell is this for? Certainly not Rafa.

I would love to see a cap, good blog!

I actually think Rafa in the new outfit looked classy and sophisticated. Just my opinion

I am not a fan of the new image for Nadal. The sleeveless/piratas looks was sort of his signature. Not having it is a little like losing the Rafa brand.

Yup Rafa's game is more Ninja Turtle than Federer's smooth brilliance. Their outfits almost spoke for the way they played. Not anymore for Rafa.

However, the change isn't as big as Andre Agassi. Now that was change in your face.

That's a good point, samprallica. Agassi weathered the image change just fine, and I expect Rafa will do the same.

Interestingly enough; don't you think Federer changed once he started winning? My first memory of him winning Wimbledon was a shy emotional unshaven guy with long hair. He looked very frumpy if you will at the Wimbledon champs dinner that year.

Now he's all prim and prettyboy lol.

Yeah it sucks but what can we do about it? Fine example, I was talking to a player last night. Asked him if he'd be coming back to the tourny he just played in. He said nah. When I asked why, he said, well unless they want to pay me more. Said player had also just lost 3000 bucks on roulette so I kinda understand...

Let's face it, FED's reign is fading and Rafa is JUST starting to shine.
Of course AVID/DIE HARD fans can't swallow this it's so bitter.
Sometime soon, another champion will emerge and the same discussion will come up again. Fed had his time on top and once ur there the only way to go is down. He can't stay there 'till He's 50.
When RAFA was still a lowly ranked player, Fed was already winning big, so it's fair to say that his respect for ROG is extremely high. As long as he's still active playing tennis RAFA would always feel #2 even if the ranking says otherwise.

Nadal is clearly the best tennis player and no matter how emotional Federer gets, he will continue to lose to Nadal. It really is just this simple. Doesn't matter what the talking heads and others in the media think or say.

amen!

agf25agf the guys only 27 YEARS OF AGE not 50! Sampras retired when he WAS 33!
I ROOT for professional opinion!

fofe---- if you don't have the capacity to understand what we're discussing better not post anything because you will invite a heated argument from moi again.
I'm trying to patronize you minnows for sometime now and here YOU are from nowhere ADDRESSING me about something you're not capable of comprehension.
IF YOU'RE ROOTING FOR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, get out of here and GO direct to the EXPERTS.

agf25agf! LOL So if people don't agree with you it must be because they don't have "the capacity to understand"! What a joke! LOL What is your problem exactly?! Is it derived from a massive dose of insecurity complex, or someting worse indwelling self hatred. We are all tennis brothers and sisters
here. Why don't you save your condescension for your friends. Perhaps they feed from the same repulsion you appear to crave.

I agree with the thrust of the article. I actually planned a visit to Dubai to see my daughter in Feb this year so that I could go the the Championships, to see all the top players especially my favourite, Nadal. Well both Nadal and Federer pulled out, much to the disappointment of the organisers. There were pictures of the big four all over Dubai, even sports shops at the shopping malls featured Nadal and Federer tantalising on their windows, the airport magazine had Nadal on the cover, all promoting the sport as so prestigious that the top players would all be there.

Needless to say I was gutted, I had to make do with being within one metre of Simon signing autographs for some school children, with people asking who he was. The tournament was sold out in advance, obviously because everyone expected all the top players to be there, by the time they pulled out, their intended presence had already had it's effect, so the organisers did not lose anything, but the fans definitely did.

I'd be interested to know when this practice originated. Doesn't the WTA do the same thing? How would the smaller tournaments survive otherwise?

Many of the top players do not have the time to compete in the "little" tournaments because of the ATP's requirement schedule. They already play 11 months out of the year. If they want to retain their ranking, then they will choose resting before a GS or other big tourney, rather than playing a "little" tourney. If you really want to change how things work, then the first step is to change the ATP requirement schedule. Less requirements means the players are free to play the smaller tourneys. Many of them will do that to prepare for a bigger tourney, get used to court change or stay match ready.

sky- you reacted that way cos what i said hit you hard it pains you not to react IN BEHALF of another person. I won't elaborate more cos it's of no use to small minded, intellectually challenged tennis "bros & sis" in this forum like YOU!

Thing is this is not only Nadal's time. Murray and Djoker are all fighting for Fed's throne. Maybe Nadal is No.1 but No.1 is secondary to Grand Slam success. It doesn't matter how much time Fed lose to Nadal, the whole ATP WORLD TOUR is not about some matches between these 2. 13 times he lost to Nadal big deal, he won against so many players his age. Fact is, he dominates his batch more than Nadal is dominating the likes of Djoker and Murray and even Tsonga has a shot at him. No one has dominated the way Fed did. Not even Nadal yet. He's not even no.1 for a year and you guys are blowing your horns already,

"Maybe Nadal is No.1 but No.1 is secondary to Grand Slam success."

Hate to burst your bubble torres9, but Nadal IS No. 1, no "maybe" about it! And since Fed is no longer No.1, you have to fall back on his GS numbers when you talk about him. Since you seem to think you are the smart one, answer these questions:

1. How many GS did Fed have at age 22 and how many does Rafa have at 22?
2. What are Fed's HTH with his major rivals over the years and what is Rafa's HTH with his major rivals over the years?

Remember this time fondly in 5 years when Rafa is the age that Fed is now and then compare the numbers, especially of GS since that is obviously your measure of success. Rafa fans are allowed to "blow their horns" for his No.1 status just as Fed did when he was No.1. And please don't tell me that it didn't matter to him, when he complained about being introduced as the No.2 in the world!