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7/26/09 9:32 PM | Johan Lindahl
John McEnroe has thrown his support behind this week's last-tier ATP event in LA as the game struggles to attract attention during the post-Wimbledon lull.
Most fans outside of the cities involved could be forgiven for failing to notice that the US Open Series began last week in low-key Indianapolis. The quiet period looks set to continue for another fortnight before the big boys come out for the Montreal Masters starting August 9 followed by the same in Cincinnati.
Mac admits that the smaller events just aren't what they used to be, even just a few years ago.
"Some of it's obviously money, timing," said the 50-year-old. "This is one of the rare years where I think there's eight weeks between Wimbledon and the Open. For a European, that makes it a little more difficult. They're talking like six, seven weeks if you get to the end of the Open."
With all but the most points-hungry European players quite happy to leave any travel to the US to the last possible moment, small tournament draws in July and August are hurting.
A re-organization of the ATP calendar taking place this season didn't help, with elite players all but banned from playing the low-tier 250 series tournaments.
"Some of it's politics, let's be honest," said McEnroe. "I have a second home in LA. I spend a fair amount of time here over the year.
"If you're asking me where would I rather play a summer tournament, LA or Cincinnati, it's not that difficult an answer for me, and it probably wouldn't be for a lot of other players.
"Cincinnati has a lot more money and they've got more connections. That's why that tournament is there. It's like anything: there's a lot of politics in tennis as well as everything else."
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LOL f4t!
Cincy is a good tourney - well run, and now USTA owns it, and all the top names have gone there for years. It will be successful regardless of what Johnnie Mac says.
Rafterfan , 7/26/09 11:11 PM
Blame it on the ATP and the current points system ...
bianca , 7/27/09 6:16 AM
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No spell-check Johan?
fan4tennis , 7/26/09 10:35 PM