Just saw your blog Ricky. Thanks for the predictions.

What is your opinion on this excerpt from and ESPN article :

"The Davis Cup quarterfinals are played the week after Wimbledon, and the semifinals are played the week following the U.S. Open.

Nadal has been a vocal critic, but the dates are also partly his doing.

Nadal was among 17 of the top 20 players who asked the International Tennis Federation, which organizes the Davis Cup, to alter the calendar in October 2006. The change was implemented at the start of the 2009 season.

In the letter, also signed by then-No. 1 Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, Nadal asked that Davis Cup play come in the week immediately following the Grand Slam events and not two weeks later, as originally scheduled."

Now it seems he's threatening some kind of boycott or lawsuit :
"We don't want to get there. We want to play. But if it's a fight about something that we think is fair, something would have to happen," Nadal said on Friday. "Sometimes the only way to make things happen is to choose strong action."

Nadal insisted an "evolution" in the calendar must be made or "we might get to a place where we might not want to be."

Way to bite the hand that feeds you dude!

As often as Fed has played Davis Cup since signing that letter I don't see how it matters to him when the thing is played. Roddick quit playing for a year or two there. In 2006 Rafa was a 20 year old kid with 2 FO's and a Wimbly final to his major credit. If Roger and Roddick handed him a letter and said sign here, kid, I'm sure he'd have done it. For that matter one week after the majors is indeed preferable to 2 weeks after. I think Rafa's after a major format change, not a shift. The ITF wants money, much of which goes to the various national tennis foundations. The base problem is that the tennis schedule is overcrowded with mandatory events and lower level tournaments. Rafa's among the leaders in matches played this year, and he's still not going to make all of his required 500 level tournaments for the second year in a row, partly because he chose 1st round DC over Rotterdam in Feb. He feels exploited, which is ok with him as long as he can stay healthy, cuz he knows they'll toss him on the trash heap as soon as he can't.

The ITF does not "feed" Rafa or the other top players. They feed it. Which is ok - most of them love Davis Cup and are more than willing to "give back". They just don't want to be cannibalized in the process.

Well said Ramara. Can't fault a 20 yo kid then, when some adults also agree to it. Now other than Rafa, Fed and Roddick were also complaining about the ATP schedules. As usual número will jump at every opportunity to criticize Rafa, when Fed is also complaining about the same thing. What biased opinion!

Ramara and lucky,

I'm going by the article. It specifically says "In the letter, also signed by then-No. 1 Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, Nadal asked that Davis Cup play come in the week immediately following the Grand Slam events and not two weeks later, as originally scheduled.

I'll repeat for the people here who don't understand what they read :

NADAL asked that Davis Cup play come ...............

It does not say Roger and Andy asked. It simply says they also signed it.

"While Spain was on the receiving end of a drubbing Saturday, the four-time champion can still clinch its place in the final on Sunday when Rafael Nadal is scheduled to face Gilles Simon in reverse singles on the outdoor clay.

France captain Guy Forget may opt to play Tsonga against Nadal because teams can make a change up to one hour before matches. Tsonga is the only French player with repeated wins over Nadal (2-5), although the pair have never met on clay.

"If he picks me that would be the fantastic," Tsonga said. "I am motivated to go and play if I get picked. If I play I am sure I will certainly play against Rafa in this incredible environment and on the clay -- I would really like that."

Nadal hasn't lost a singles Davis Cup match since losing in his debut in 2004, racking up a 17-1 record that includes 13-0 on clay. The six-time French Open champion has lost only five of his last 100 matches on clay.

While France was routed in singles on Friday, a refreshed Tsonga provided the perfect complement with French doubles specialist Llodra.

Both Lopez and Verdasco struggled with their serve throughout and the French shrugged off the 100-degree temperatures for seven break points to none for Spain.

The Spaniards hit 19 winners to the visitors' 41, and the 10th-ranked Tsonga closed out the rout with the pair's ninth ace of the day.

"There was a lot of pride on the line after yesterday," Tsonga said. "(But) it was definitely much easier than we expected. We expected to endure a much tougher match."

Rafa most likely playing Tsonga and Nole playing DelPo...wow..this DC is promising a manic Sunday tomorrow...

In the other reverse singles match on Sunday, David Ferrer is scheduled to play Richard Gasquet.

Nah, I don't think it's wise putting Tsonga vs Rafa and Gasquet vs Ferrer. Tsonga vs Ferrer, France has a better chance of winning. Tsonga or Simon vs Rafa, no chance. It's a matter of Spain winning 4-1 or 3-2, more likely to be 4-1 now.

número - whether it's Rafa initiating the change in 2006 or not, I'm sure as a 20 yo, he's being advised to do so; moreover, I believe it's being dicussed among the players before players like Fed and Roddick or whoever were willing to put their signatures on the petition/agreement.

In any case, the ITF response to Rafa now about his complaints, was that Rafa played DC ties infrequently anyway, so the existing DC schedules won't affect him much. Silly answer! It's precisely because the existing schedule is such that's why Rafa can't participate in more of the DC ties and that's why he's been complaining! Is that how ITF solve problems??

if they put Tsonga against Ferrer then Simon has to play Nadal...in which case they would never get to Tsonga vs. Ferrer.

and as for natashao's comment about a "manic Sunday," there will be nothing manic about Nadal vs. Tsonga on a clay court in Spain.

Only suspense left is Serbia vs. Argentina and Australia vs. Switzerland.

No diff, Rafa vs Tsonga, Ferrer and Gasquet also never got to play.

Pfff I saw 1 ralleigh of the Nadal match and I got sick and threw up/ Well to be fair that doesnot happen all the time when Fistpumper is on the game, but the Cordoba field/pitch/mud must be the slowest tenniscourt ever. They did great.

Lucky: The ITF and ATP both appear hell bent on killing the geese that lay the golden eggs.

It is time the men in suits who run tennis recognise their most valuable - indeed only - asset is a group of talented guys prepared to spill their guts on the courts month in and month out; relinquish all hope of a normal private life; battle with jet lag year round; and punish their bodies which in many cases will leave them with the legacy of physical problems for the rest of their life.

Small wonder they feel pissed off when their voice is not heard and are now hinting at mounting a revolt.

OK, the elite few earn huge sums of money but for the rest it is an endless hard slog with earnings that sometims barely cover their costs.

Realistically, the only thing that I can see that could change is the number of mandatory tournaments. There's no other feasible way to 'fix' the schedule. It's up to the players to plan their schedules accordingly. You can't say have a 3 month off season. What are they gonna do : Just drop 20% of the tournaments?

well, I hope you are right, Ricky...last thing I want to see is tired Rafa playing long and demanding match... I don't think Tsonga can do any damage to him on clay, though...

I thought what Rafa &Co proposed lately was fine, ie about having the regular season ends two months before the year end, letting the players to have a longer rest, while allowing some of the 250 events to be carried on during these last two months and whoever in need of cash or ranking points can then play these events.

The top players can then have more time to rest, work on their games and at the same time do some exhos. I think those organisers of 250 events understandably didn't agree of such arrangements and mentioned that if that's the case, then they don't want these top players to be allowed to play exhos during these rest period instead of competing in ATP events. I think nothing came out of it then, ie no agreement had been reached.

Now Fed and Rafa, I believe, play exhos not just because of easy money. They do those exhos first to meet with fans, especially where they're in places where Fedal do not have a chance to go to during their regular ATP tours. Second, they may do exhos to help explore new markets for themselves, ensuring their own popularity is spread to more places, more people. This may be an obligation required from their existing sponsors, ie to tap new markets. At the same time, the players concerned may also attract new sponsors.

I don't blame Fedal for complaining about the ATP schedules on the one hand, yet OTOH they go and do exhos; for their shelf lives may be short, the windows of opportunities may be shut too soon for them. They have to maximize their potential for making money before it's too late, and what better time than now when Fedal rivalry is still intriguing for many, before a new rivalry emerges and let the old rivalry be forgotten.

IMO, the players who play these exhos do it for money, and I see it as greed. How much more money do they need? Between prize money and endorsements, they have enough money to last them two/three lifetimes.

I don't understand why they would complain about the season as being too lengthy, then turn around and play an exho? For what reason other than greed and/or the love of money.

Both Nadal and Djokovic left the USA, a day after playing a Masters tournament, hopped a plane to South America to play an exho, then returned back to the USA and playedi n another masters tournament. They both asked for late Wednesday starts coz they were tired, ad the ATP willingly complied. are we to believe that that exho was to meet with their fans? If so, how much time did they have available to them to do so?

I think it's ridculous how these top players complain about the schedule then play exhos and tournaments that they are not expected to play. Why? Wasn't Djokovic going to do something about the lengthy season a year ago, and what did he do instead, he immediately added Basel to his schedule, and played more tournaments that year, for what reason? The only conclusion I can come to was to gain ranking points , and since then we've not heard a peep out of him with respect to the schedule. It was just a bunch of hot air to make himself look good.

It's unfortunate that the guys who absolutely need the money, the journeymen, don't get offered these opportunities, but these high paying top 3, who've got too much money and don't even know where to put it, are playing exhos even though they claim they are tired and want a shorter season.

With respect to playing exhos to increase their popularity, that's just hogwash. They are already popular in every hemishphere of the world, so they don't need to play a $3 million dollar prize money exho to do that, coz most of the people going to those exhos already know about them and are willing to pay for the hefty ticket prices these exhos command.

If they want popularity, all they need to do is engage in more charitable work, and then they'll be known worldwide, as they will reach out to people who are underprivileged, who are unaware of tennis, and the newsmedia will ensure their good works are broadcasted until we're sick of hearing both the players and the newsmedia talk about their wonderful deeds..

While on the topic of charitable works, when is Djokovic going to start a foundation and give back to the needy and those less fortunate as a token for all that he has received? He's got a good deal going for him in Serbia. His country has given him tons of money to build academies, own his tournament, plus he rakes in other benefits, e.g., his business ventures in Serbia are all tax-free. He should be living in Serbia and paying taxes, not shacking it up in wealthy Monte Carlo.

Added to all of the above, now Djokovic is griping about the extra day delay at the USO. Last year when it benefitted him, he wasn't complaining, but this year, complaints galore. I suppose his DC obligations have cut short his moments of glory in the USA. Poor guy, what a pity he can't be made an American, coz he sure loves the American spotlight, and would give his right arm to be as popular in the US as some of our US stars. One of the highlights of his time in the US was spending time with Sampras and ensuring that he broadcasted their meeting as nauseam. What a drama queen.

Talking about greediness, you have to include Fed too in the equation. I remember him doing some exhos too with Sampras, at Madison Square Gardens one year, and also some exhos in KL too, either in 2007 or 2008. It's not that he's one who don't believe in exhos, and it's not like he's one not complaining about the ATP schedules.

All of them are greedy to a certain extent, if not why fight to have more sponsors deals?? None of them is holier than others, be it Fed, Rafa or Nole.

Asapl ayer Fed has never questioned the scheduling. Of course last US Open he had complasints but that was carried troughout the tennisworld. He never said he believed the tennis year was to long or to demanding. You are lying Luckystar and it is not because youre posting are to long.

Fedonly has been votingfor a less long year when it was possibke and other players wishes to do so. Because he was shareman of the players council he felt he should listen to his fellow members like Rafa. But Fed is just happy with the length and depth of the tennis year. Of course he himself is more then consious about his physiek and will certainly try to stay in shape big tourneys.
Stop making lies about Federer.

shareman is chairman? and sorry for typos but you get my point. You are a liar only trying to bring Fed down.

Im not going to argue with people who clearly idolizes Fed and nothing else. Go and dig out his pressers or interviews and read for yourself. Calling people names doesn't change a thing. Good day. I won't entertain name calling posts from psters out to create troubles.

Pity Nole couldn't be American? Haha! I don't think Nole or most people would want to be a part of your country, there are a million better places in the world to live, if only you woke up!

His meeting with Sampras was like any fan meeting his idol. I sure as hell would have publicised that I met Pete, I don't see why Nole isn't entitled to do so.

Anyway, have fun with Nole winning, scoretracker. He's been doing it a lot lately, and doesn't seem to want to stop.

I will stop adressing you Luckystar if you stop stating all thos blunt lies about Federer.He never ever questions the length of the season he just delas with it. But you cannot handle the truth sdo you make up lies to bring Fed inwith the two criebabys Djoker and Nada.

Sienna, one last post from me. Fed is the president of the players council, do you think Rafa will go ahead to lobby for a shorter playing calendar, which will be effective starting 2012, if he didn't get the president's nod, in addition tonthe players' before they went negotiating with the ATP? While Fed won't complain about too many hard court events for obvious reasons, he's also one who thinks the season is too long. I did read about his comments about the playing schedule and I'm not lying, so stop saying that I lied. Whether you choose to believe or not it's up to you. I feel offended when somebody said that I lied. I shall stop here, knowing your style, you'll argue for the sake of irritating others.

Fed never said he was unhappy with the length of the season. You lie big time boy!
He said it is not a problem for me but if the players wnat to reduce the season we will have to look and find the best way to do so.
Again stop youre blunt lying what Fed did as president of the players council.

Look sienna, I would apreciate you go and do a bit of homework, go dig out his past interviews. I'm not going to entertain you anymore, I'll alert the moderators if you carry on provoking people till no end.

Moderators of this site, please give this sienna a warning, for consistently provoking fellow posters till no end. Your attention to this matter will be much appreciated. I hope this site here will not tolerate all these baiting, calling fellow posters names or whatever disgusting provoking. Thank you in advance.

I will tell you again and again if you spread lies then you'll hear from me. Fed has never questioned the lenght of teh season as a player. Last year there were many times he spoke out his opinion on this. No need to reread his interviews.
There was a two week reduction in the schedule but Fedsaid that is the limit. He was ok with that because Rafa demanded the shorter season.

Fed never wanted to reduce the tourney because he knows that there ar emore players then only the top guys around. Not everybody can pick 18 tourneys and be good with them. He thinks als about the younger and less fortunate players unlike Rafa who does not give s about those kind of players.

So to call the moderators for shwoing what a liar you are is ridiculous. I have more reason to call the moderators to give you some stearn talking.

And of course you lie bcause you said for atleast two posting that you would stop adressing me. So stop!!

Fed was not as outspoken as Rafa and Roddick in criticizing the long season. However, he's one who support a longer year end break. In fact he mentioned that it's good to have another two extra weeks rest at the end of the season, even four weeks, for players to rest for a few weeks to relax or heal any inflamations and still have a few weeks to practice and work on their games. Do bear in mind that Fed can skip a Masters event or two now without penalty, so of course he can plan his schedule better than the other younger players, who can't skip any mandatory events without a valid reason.

It's not like they're cutting down on the number of tournaments held during the year, it's matter of reshuffling the time table to accomodate all. There'll be overlapping of the smaller tournaments of course, still a lower ranked player can't play them all as his body would not allow it.

In conclusion, while Fed is not as outspoken as Rafa, Nole, Murray and Roddick in complaining that the season is too long, he does express the same sentiment and is in support of a longer year end off season. While he himself has already earned the previlege of skipping mandatory events without incurring any penalty, his younger colleagues don't have such previlege yet.

Ok I guess this is as close to an apology as you can get. Accepted.

(Fed only goes along because of his fellow players)

You're strange sienna, you seem to enjoy picking up fights here. Why do you always imagine every Rafa fan is against Fed? As I've mentioned in my earlier posts, unless I'm provoked, I won't want to bash any player. So stop provoking me, especially when I'm in a discussion with some posters here.

Anyway, have fun with Nole winning, scoretracker. He's been doing it a lot lately, and doesn't seem to want to stop.

samprallica, 9/18/11 12:54 PM

Seems as though you spoke a bit too soon BTW, why do you think our country is filled to its gills with so many who clamor to come here? Coz they think it's the best?

I am not provoking you. I told you to stop spreading lies. And you did. You said"In conclusion, while Fed is not as outspoken as Rafa, Nole, Murray and Roddick in complaining that the season is too long, he does express the same sentiment and is in support of a longer year end off season"

So that is enough for me to see you have downscaled your initial critic on Fed.

Have a good one. I am not here to provoke you I just want things to be clear and in the open.

Er sienna, I don't think I was criticizing Fed. I was merely saying that Fed himself also do exhos like some others. So if others were considered greedy, so does Fed. In my opinion, I don't think they're wrong doing exhos in the first place, for I understand that they've to make hay while the sun shines, and they do have responsibilites towards their sponsors and fans too. These top players probably want to do exhos during the year end off season so that they are not disruptive to their regular tour competitions.

Yes but you used it because it was an counterargument for the long season. People say they complain about long season and they enter those exhibitions.
Of course Fed not complaining about the length of the season will make it ok for him to play exho for his charity.

Sienna I don't know what you're arriving at. I thought the discussion here is about those paid exhos, not the charitable ones. Of course some were referring to those two charitable exhos held end of last year as not some wise moves as they ate into the rest time of the two players involved.

When talking about greediness, of course we're talking about those paid exhos. Another thing, while Fed didn't explicitly complain about the long season, what he did talk about was he's glad they'll have two additional weeks off during the year end. As I've mentioned all these 'fighting' with the atp and the subsequent victory for the players, Fed himself was also involved as the president of the players' council.

Sienna, just ask yourself if you were Fed, having the previlege now to skip some mandatory events (because of what he has already achieved), and therefore has more time to rest than many of his younger counterparts, do you think you still have the cheek to complain outright about the long season? He's wise enough not to be explicit about it, but he welcome the changes, and was backing his fellow players. Smart man, I would say, let the others do the complaining and get all the criticism while he just have to show his support for them but explain that he himself wasn't that affected by the long season as he can always take breaks during the long season.

While I should not lump him with those who complain out loud about the long season ( like Rafa, Nole, Roddick and Murray), he did join forces with the others in complaining to and fighting with the ATP for the changes. Anyway, the changes also benefits him too, as he's getting older and more rest at end of season may be even better for him in preparation for the new season. As the president of the players' council, he can't excuse himself anyway, so why
are you, sienna, clutching at straws?

To be fair to Fed, in his younger days, he did not complain about the long season either. However, just imagine if he's getting old and not able to skip some mandatory events, unlike what he can do now, do you think he still can sustain the long gruelling season without either injuring himself or forced to withdraw from tournaments due to injury or fatigue or whatever? And no one can be sure by then, would he complain about the long season explicitly like the others do now. Judging by his outspoken and frank nature, if he was asked about it then, I won't be surprised that he'll end up complaining too. Just be happy, sienna, that your Fed has earned the previlege now and there's no need for him to fight like the others do for the ATP to shorten the long season. All these are my opinions, you may not agree with them and that's fine with me. I think I've spent enough of my spare time on this topic and I'm not going any furher to argue with you.

Funny scoretracker assuming I'm Serbian. I don't need to be part of a country that has to kill millions in the middle-east and attack its own people to stay rich ;)

I dont think greed is a means for any of the top players. They play for history. I'll like to think that.

But it is there hoby or passion so whenever they can play a game and make money out of it they'll take it I gues.


ANywayz Fed should know better then to go in those exhos. After 2007 (pete Sampras) exho he clearly got overworked and the Mono was a late gift from the year 2007 and those exhose. I believe he should never had taken those on.... He would have had 20 slams by now(;-))
But Rafa and Novak took some business in south america I bleieve? Incredible why would they do that. Tennis is a grueling sport and it has changed so much over the last few years. (more physical demanding) They should be wiser then to go an travel all over the world for a few dollars.

Yes sienna, I don't think they do exhos just because of greed. As I've mentioned it more looking a the bigger picture of capturing more market for themselves as well as their sponsors. I can understand their grievances, as it's diffcult to fit in so many things into their already long busy schedules, especially when they are the ones who reach the business ends of most tournaments. It's not only Rafa who's complaining, two of the other three top four guys are also complaining, so we can understand why; it's not selfish reasons, but rather they're the victims of their own success. They have not earned the previlege that Fed has already earned, so they have to continue fighting for their own course and also that of the other players'.

Why do you keep saying things like this... They have not earned the previlege that Fed has already earned, so they have to continue fighting for their own course and also that of the other players'. ?

What is youre point with a statement like that? It looks like youre being upset that Fed has priviliges because the rules are like that?

No sienna, I'm not upset. I'm just giving the reason why these younger players have to fight their course. Rafa can also start skipping one Masters event, now that he has over 600 match play, so there's no reason for me being upset. I'm just being more understanding and sympathetic towards these players, and see the reasons why they have to lobby for changes to the ATP calendar.

In the past Rafa has stated that he believes it is necessary to bring about changes both for the long term health of players and for the sport as a whole. He is aware that any changes will in all likelihood be too late to benefit him but he hopes that it will help the next generation of players. Murray said almost exactly the same thing in his recent BBC interview.

I don't understand why they would complain about the season as being too lengthy, then turn around and play an exho? For what reason other than greed and/or the love of money.
scoretracker , 9/18/11 6:03 AM


Players do exhos to promote the sport and to raise money for charity. Why should they not make money in their spare time and what do exhos have to do with the tennis calendar? It's like saying no one should complain that their working hours are too long because they earn money doing freelance in their spare time.

Ina strike situation the strikers come with demands. What exactly do the strikers want?They want change, but that was inv2008. What eactly does Nadal, Murray , Djokovic want to change before they will play again?

The players nowadays seem to forget that prior to 2006 masters 1000 finals were best of 5 as was the WTF final. At some point there were no byes in first round of masters.

In my opinion the only thing players can ask is to reduce the number of mandatory 500 and 250 tournaments but never to shorten the season. There are players that make their living by playing in lots of tournaments since they lose early.
Top players have to think and plan their schedule. If any players wants some reference look at a certain Roger Federer.

Yes that is something they could do, but what is the probem for the top guys to get some zero pointers for 250 or 500 1 or 2 zeropointers is not resally the difference between 1, 2 or 3.
Maybe they should be allowed to skip masters, but the master tourneys want the top guys and they mean bussines in ATP land.
The calender should be reshuffled in order to obtain the maximum use of the tournements inline with eachother. But when you look at US Open series that is great. Starting with smaller venues building up to the 2 masters and then finishing with slam. Maybe the year would be better of starting with the two US masters in januari and set the AU open a bit back to follow them a few weeks later. But will that be sufficient for the players will it help them ? Do not think so.

But if they want to strike andfigth for something they will need to make there demands a bit clearer because i don't know what they exactly want.

Sienna, 4 GS + 8 Masters 1000=12 tournaments. Do you seriously believe any player would play less than 12 tournaments a year?!

Actually what Rafa orginally proposed sound good to me, ie, to have all mandatory events finish two months before the year end, then allow the smaller events to carry on till the year ends. The lower ranked players, and those who need ranking points can still compete in these tournaments and earn their keeps. I think the ATP should reduce the no. of mandatory events, esp the Masters series, maybe reduce to seven countable masters events. Players can compete in all nine if they wish but only the seven with the highest points can be counted towards their rankings. The 500 or 250 events don't make much impact on the top players as they simply get a zero pointer for each one that they skip, and that way the top players can have more time to rest and work on their game at year end in preparation for the new season. Also they can do their duties towards their sponsors and do some exhos to meet fans, also help to promote the sports too. I believe the players are fighting more to reduce the mandatory events than anything else.

luckystar
If they can skipextra master?. woulod that make the difference? And given the importance all havetowards the slams. It would be obvious they choose to skip the best possible masters (in theory) , So they would plan all top ranked players the best possible schedule and they would come to the same conclusion. It would be a hard pill to swallow for the master without any of the top elite to paticipate. That will bring the masters to an end. (I feel)

Don't be silly, if one top guy skip one Masters, that makes it easier for the others to win, why would all top guys miss it at the same time? In the past I think both Fed and Rafa skipped the Paris Masters, in 2005 and 2006; they both only compete there since 2007. Now if they change it to allow the players to skip one more Masters, chances are they may skip the Paris Masters, provided of course their ranking points are way ahead of the rest of the field. However, I don't think the French players like Tsonga, Monfils, Gasquet and Simon would miss it, and the locals would surely support their own players; that may be a good chance for the French to win a Masters.

So, players have to plan strategically how they want to compete in the ATP calendar and of course the slams too. It's time other players get their chances to shine, the game is not only about the top four. Also up and comers should be given the chances to shine in those smaller events when the top guys are not involved and it may be a good time to discover some potential future stars via these smaller events.

Now that from 2012 onwards, the WTF is immediately after the Paris Masters without the one week break in between, I doubt Rafa would miss it (as he would be short of match play for the WTF which is held indoors). Players like Fed, Nole and Murray may skip it as they usually play at Basel/Valencia, which pay them appearance fees, and playing for three consecutive weeks, ie Basel/Valencia, followed by Paris Masters and then WTF, may be too much for them, risking their chances at the WTF.

?? you are saying do not be silly but giving just the same explanation (or somewhat) I gave.
Maybe they do not take the same master for there mandatory, but every year the same masters will be skipped by the top guys leaving those masters in a terribl;e place because they also want to have a fedal or Djokerere murrdal or murrerer semi and final.
It is just a bomb under the masters tourne when this will happen because the skipped masters would feel the damage verry hard.

Federer has just pulled out of shangai. Will someone follow?

Sienna, if the players want to skip any Masters, they'll find excuses to skip. The Paris Masters is the last Masters of the year, so for those players who have secured their places in the rankings or in the last eight, they may or may not want to attend. Mandatory or not, it makes no difference. Just see how often a top four guy won that event? Only Nole in 2009; Fedal had not won there, same with Murray.

The other Masters events may not be so affected, rightfully so because players are still fighting for ranking points, and they'll never know whether injury or illness will strike so they'll normally won't skip any Masters early or mid season. Actually the only Masters affected may be the Paris Masters and that's why I'm concentrating on that.

I'm not contradicting myself, for I don't think every player approaches every Masters events the same way. For example, Rafa would choose a clay Masters over a hard court Masters and would most likely skip a hard court Masters instead of a clay Masters.

the skipped masters would feel the damage very hard.
Sienna , 9/23/11 11:52 AM

Exactly Sienna. That is why this talk of boycotting/striking - call it what you will - is taking place. Collective action is the final resort when discussions break down.

I doubt a strike would work because you'd never get all the players to strike like in the NFL or NBA where they have unions. If some stay away the lower ranked players are gonna be ecstatic with joy at the opportunity to win a big title.

numero that is true so :) But it's the top players that bring the crowds and the revenue in. Have you watched those challenger match,es or even the lesser tournaments, in far flung places? The stands are empty.
Also, I think your right about unions and tennis. Tennis is such an individualised sport and such a multi national one, it's difficult to see them acting collectively.
In terms of the top players being all together in the first place, the WTF would be the place.

@numbers
So I ask again what are their demands? Rafa wants the same luxury Roger has ( so I read in the postings of Luckystrike) So Nadal wants those priviliges without having the numbers to back him up. Well he is entitled his matches take twice as long as Roger's. Murray wantsto skip DavisCup So I read in between the lines of his interviews. Novak is just podding at the moment. Well Fed just is not impressed enough by his fellow topelite collegues to take any action. He is just chilling with the twins/ (good on him) Maybe if they explaine what needs to change then he could also give his view.

What are you talking about Sienna?? What do you mean by Rafa wants something like Fed's ?? BTW who are you to speak on behalf of Fed?? Fed being the president of the players' council, do you believe that he's not involve at all with all these negotiations?? Stop idealizing your Fed, he's also involved in this players' negotiations! If not he should step down as the president!!

You said explained to me the reason the others want to negotiate or strike and Fed did not because he had privileges because of his age and amount of matches okayed. So that gave good cause to the others to figth for rigths. I accpeted that, so it must be Rafa's biggest demand.
Fed will take action appropriately as the players council. He will not let his own feelings get mixed in the negotiations. He will do this if the players want it and if it's good for tennis.
I'm not sure where youre going at. please come of your high horse or pull the stick ou if it bothers you? because you are very annoying and not making sense at all. I just want to know what the demands are that would benefit all players and help tennis.
Only Rafa has been making statements of mandatory of more 1000 events? You all thougth that was great, but it is not per definition great as something is said by Rafa. And Murray whent on about Davis Cup... So what's the deal here?

Sienna, you're very annoying, please stop misquoting me!!

Rafa did not mention about reducing the mandatory events, I AM the one thinking about it! What Rafa wanted was a shorter season, and have some 250 events to be carried on till end of the year, so that the top 30 players, or so, can have a longer year end rest whilst the lower ranked players have their chances to keep playing, earn more money and earn some ranking points. I think that work out fine for the players but not for the tournament organisers, and that's why till now no agreement was made.

Why should Rafa think of doing like Fed, when Rafa can organize his schedule around the clay and grass tournaments, whilst Fed always think of hard court events, particularly those season ending ones? Fed may skip MC and goes there when he deems appropriate whilst Rafa will never want to miss MC. Fed now does his 500 event during that period after AO and before IW/Miami, whilst Rafa stops doing that, preferring MC and Barcelona, so where's the 'Rafa learning from Fed'?? They both are in the tours long enough to understand how best to compete to earn maximum ranking points, and their emphasis were on different surfaces, and that's why their respective rest period may be different.

Both Fed and Rafa should have come to an agreement with majority of the players before contemplating having a players meeting at Shanghai. Fed need not be physically there, but his support should not be questioned, simply because as the president of the players council, he simply can't stay out of this whole matter.

To clarify my earlier points:
1) Fed had not mentioned anything about any action to be taken by players as he's not in a good position to do so, as he himself can skip some mandatory events because he had played more than 600 matches in the tours, and he's already twelve years in the tours;

2) Rafa and Co cannot be like Fed, unless they also had played over 600 matches (Rafa had already achieved that this year though) and/or already twelve years in the tours;

3) I do not know the full details of their protest, so whether they're fighting for fewer mandatory events or not, until they disclose it, I've no idea;

4) it's not only a few guys, Rafa, Murray or Roddick who are involved; it involved all players, even a low ranked one like Deverman;

5) I believe the changes proposed should benefit all players, even for Fed who can already choose to drop some tournaments.

I've nothing against Fed, he's at a different stage of his career from all his younger counterparts, it's just that he's not totally out of this players protest that's all I'm saying.