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  • Nadal says ATP favours American over European events

    5/16/08 10:45 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Rafael Nadal has accused the ATP of all but conspiring against European Masters Series events while leaving unpopular American ones untouched in a 2009 calendar shakeup.

    The world No. 2 said the Florida-based body is showing its Americentric slant in moves which downgraded Monte Carlo from the top level and are trying to send Hamburg even farther down the pecking order.

    Nadal seeks more respect for tennis from the ATP and if not apparently a huge fan of under-fire ATP supremo Etienne di Villiers.

    “Maybe there has to be more respect from the ATP. We need to have a transparent person who has the same chances for the European tournaments as for America, for the Asian, for everybody.”

    The ATP board has been under pressure form Top 20 player not to automatically extend the South African boss's contract when it expires at the end of the year.

    The fate of Hamburg, popular with heavyweight players including Nadal and four-time champion Roger Federer, is being debated this week in mediation in Boston, with a July lawsuit by German organisers looming.

    A loss on the issue by the ATP would not only cost the cash-strapped sanctioning body another large expense but could also throw a finely balanced 2009 calendar into dis-array.

    “This is a very traditional and important tournament,” Nadal said of Hamburg. “To downgrade it would be very tough for everybody.”

    But not, apparently, for the ATP, which has never publicly mentioned changing the status of poorly attended, lukewarm Masters events including Cincinnati and Canada.

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Comments

  • cherylmurray | 5/16/08 2:13 PM

    Nadal is right. Why in the world would the ATP go after TWO clay masters events and leave the already schedule-heavy HC events alone? Stupid.

  • sheila | 5/16/08 7:57 PM

    more whining from the europeans what else is new

  • sisterofnight12 | 5/16/08 11:10 PM

    well,another americentric statement from someone who is,apparently,american!

  • agf25agf | 5/17/08 1:42 PM

    players must always be represented in EVERY decision making regarding their sport.
    It's NOT FAIR to ALWAYS think of the monetary returns and less of the welfare especially the HEALTH of the players. After all, if there's no one to watch for , where will they get to sustain their INTERESTS!

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