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The Madrid Open: A Tournament Format Under Scrutiny

As the two-week Madrid Open approaches its midpoint, it prompts a timely examination of a contentious issue within the world of tennis.

The extension of ATP and WTA tournaments over a fortnight has sparked debate regarding its effectiveness, with opinions diverging on whether this adjustment has yielded the hoped-for outcomes.

The rationale behind this extended format was to imbue these events with a greater level of prestige, akin to ‘mini Grand Slams.’

Officials from both the ATP and WTA suggested that this would open up more financial avenues for a wider range of players.

Another anticipated advantage was allowing athletes to have rest days between matches, thereby facilitating better recovery and, theoretically, enhancing match quality.

This was expected to generate increased fan engagement and media attention, creating a similar excitement surrounding these tournaments as seen with the four major championships.

However, the reality has not entirely aligned with these expectations.

Players have expressed mixed reactions to the extended format. Notably, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek shared their thoughts during the Madrid Open.

Sabalenka remarked that she appreciates the longer schedule, as it provides her with necessary time to recuperate physically and mentally between matches. Conversely, Swiatek indicated that she has grown indifferent to the format.

It’s important to note that top-ranked players, who often progress deep into tournament draws, tend to reap the most benefits from these rest days.

Conversely, lesser-ranked players have articulated their worries regarding the new structure.

An important lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) claimed to represent the broader player demographic, arguing that the ATP and WTA’s alterations have actually resulted in reduced rest periods for tennis professionals during the extended season.

Additionally, Novak Djokovic, a co-founder of the PTPA, elaborated on this matter in his pre-tournament press conference, responding to Carlos Alcaraz’s comment about feeling like a “slave” to the sport. Djokovic highlighted the negative implications of the elongated events.

“Now we essentially don’t have four Grand Slams – we have maybe 12 Grand Slams. It’s a lot,” Djokovic stated.

This year, seven of the nine ATP Masters tournaments span two weeks, alongside six of the ten WTA 1000 events.

The initial week of the Madrid Open, featuring a mix of qualifying and main-draw matches, exhibited a slow start in terms of energy.

Attendance in the main stadiums at the Caja Magica was often sparse, although the venue saw an influx of schoolchildren on field trips.

For many spectators further afield, the varied scheduling can appear convoluted and hard to monitor.

So, will there be any adjustments to this format?

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi remains firm in his support of the current structure. Meanwhile, while the WTA claims to continually assess its circuit, chair Steve Simon is also of the opinion that the new layout does not significantly increase player workload.

Ultimately, as Swiatek suggested, it seems that players and fans alike will need to adapt to this evolving landscape in professional tennis.

Source
www.bbc.com