Why not Queens? And fight for a longer grass court swing? There are already 6 hard court 1000 mastes (1 indoor), but you still need one more? There's not even a 500-pt tournament for grass.

^^^Exactly.

I don't think Djoko thought this one through. I agree that if there's to be a new Master's it should be on grass. Maybe if Dubai grew a grass court and moved to 2 weeks before Wimbledon...but I don't exactly see that happening.

Nonsense, if Dubai wants Masters status they have to buy the Shanghai or Paris license. I dont see another way. And yes, a grass Masters would be great. But Wimby then has to start a week later, which will be difficult.

Wimbledon is already going to start a week later.

Wimbledon Championships moved back a week from 2015
Wimbledon will start a week later from 2015 to allow players a three-week rest period following the French Open.

Currently, the All England Club opens its Championships two weeks after the play finishes at Roland Garros.

But as of 2015 - when Wimbledon will run from 29 June to 12 July - competitors will have 22 days to make the transition from clay to grass.

"There is widespread support within the game for extending the gap," said All England Club chairman Philip Brook.

Analysis
Jonathan Overend

"One of the biggest frustrations with the congested tennis calendar has always been the tiny gap between the 2nd and 3rd Grand Slams of the season.

A three week build-up to Wimbledon will give players an extra chance to rest and adjust between the surfaces. It's undoubtedly a positive move. But will we really notice much of a difference? It's not as if a Masters event will suddenly be introduced.

The bigger grass court warm up events, such as Queens, will want to shift back with Wimbledon. And no top player will want to play in that week directly after the French."

"The best interests of tennis will be served by allowing the players more time to recuperate and to adjust from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass at Wimbledon.

"We think most players will welcome the prospect of a longer grass-court season and spending more time on the softer surface of grass."

The Aegon Championships at Queen's Club usually begins a day after the French Open men's final and concludes on the following Sunday.

That is also true of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, and the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

In the week before Wimbledon, the Aegon International in Eastbourne and Unicef Open in the Netherlands are the most high-profile events.

Wimbledon being put back a week may influence the North American hard-court schedule building up to the US Open, which traditionally starts on the final Monday in August.

"In making this change from 2015 we recognise that there will be some important consequences for the overall tennis calendar and enough time needs to be given to allow us all to plan accordingly," Brook continued.

Wimbledon Championships moved back a week from 2015
Wimbledon will start a week later from 2015 to allow players a three-week rest period following the French Open.

Currently, the All England Club opens its Championships two weeks after the play finishes at Roland Garros.

But as of 2015 - when Wimbledon will run from 29 June to 12 July - competitors will have 22 days to make the transition from clay to grass.

"There is widespread support within the game for extending the gap," said All England Club chairman Philip Brook.

Analysis
Jonathan Overend
BBC tennis correspondent

"One of the biggest frustrations with the congested tennis calendar has always been the tiny gap between the 2nd and 3rd Grand Slams of the season.

A three week build-up to Wimbledon will give players an extra chance to rest and adjust between the surfaces. It's undoubtedly a positive move. But will we really notice much of a difference? It's not as if a Masters event will suddenly be introduced.

The bigger grass court warm up events, such as Queens, will want to shift back with Wimbledon. And no top player will want to play in that week directly after the French."

"The best interests of tennis will be served by allowing the players more time to recuperate and to adjust from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass at Wimbledon.

"We think most players will welcome the prospect of a longer grass-court season and spending more time on the softer surface of grass."

The Aegon Championships at Queen's Club usually begins a day after the French Open men's final and concludes on the following Sunday.

That is also true of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, and the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

In the week before Wimbledon, the Aegon International in Eastbourne and Unicef Open in the Netherlands are the most high-profile events.

Wimbledon being put back a week may influence the North American hard-court schedule building up to the US Open, which traditionally starts on the final Monday in August.

"In making this change from 2015 we recognise that there will be some important consequences for the overall tennis calendar and enough time needs to be given to allow us all to plan accordingly," Brook continued.

Not a mastres at the expense of other masters tournaments. I am with Textor on that. And I am with all on the need to have one masters on grass. At the trophy ceremony, he said: "This should be at least a 1000 tournament". And I am thinking "AT LEAST?? Really?" What is above 1000? A GS?! Anyhow, this could maybe be upgraded to a masters but granted another masters on HC is deleted from the schedule.

djokovic is deluded to say that Dubai should be a grand slam event. Truly deluded. And to think that Nadal is criticised for wanting more clay and grass tournaments, for the logical reason that there exists an imbalance between the number of hard court tournaments as opposed to clay and grass, but djokovic gets off lightly for saying that Dubai....DUBAI!! should be AT LEAST a masters tournament. LOL

He's showing his appreciation for Dubai and how they treat their players. I don't know how serious he is.Who cares anyhow, it's not gonna happen.

some other surface soft on knees is preferable.

.....and soft on the back too, oh and ankle as well!

Ideally,

{
Hard Court events ( GS + Masters) = (Clay Events + Grass Events) * ( GS + Masters);

}

More variety with surfaces to make tennis more interesting is preferable.

^^^

But if Nadal does not win then he may boycott it...

I've never associated "Innovation" with "ATP". Sorry, they've done very little for the game... Everyone knows it's Fed/Sampras/Agassi/Williams/Nadal that has grown the game to its current state.

The Djoker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4nkFM-L7mg