What happened to the At&T Challenge in Atlanta?

[don knot]

People of Atlanata, what happened to this event? It was discontinued after the 2001 season and I never really understood why.
The country club in deluth was a perfect setting and the fan support seemed strong to me.
Atlanta is one of the world's greatest tennis cities so why isn't there a pro event held there?
Any inside info?
Thanks,

[johnathan smith]

I went to the at&t in 2001 and saw Agassi lose to a French qualifier.
The tennis was awesome as well as the evet itself. Tennis is so big in Atlanta that maybe people are too busy with their own alta matches to attend the event?
We do need another event down here in the South.

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

There is talks in replacing the Houston event, which is in it's last year back to Atlanta or making it a duel gender tournament in Charleston.

[Forehand Forever]

Originally Posted by MEAC_ALLAMERICAN

There is talks in replacing the Houston event, which is in it's last year back to Atlanta or making it a duel gender tournament in Charleston.

They would have to do a ton of work where the Family Circle cup is because it's pretty small down there. They only have one real stadium.

[johnathan smith]

The country club that used to host the at&t challenge in Atlanta could certainly host the combined event. They had 1 big stadium court, a couple of grandstand courts a bunch of outer courts.
I would love to see a big time event back in atlanta!

[Marius_Hancu]

Houston will be gone too, this is the last year, I've heard.

[johnathan smith]

Originally Posted by Marius_Hancu

Houston will be gone too, this is the last year, I've heard.

That is what we are talking about....The Houston event might be moved to Atlanta..
I think the other options are Charleston, and Del Ray Beach.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by Forehand Forever

They would have to do a ton of work where the Family Circle cup is because it's pretty small down there. They only have one real stadium.

USTA president was at the Family Circle, looked like he was having a good time. I expect Charleston to get the men's clay championship, dual event with wta Family Circle. Stadium issue won't be a big deal. It's a wta tier 1 with most of the top women, they'll get the stadium court. Most of the men will play on the other courts, b/c there are not many big names.

[don knot]

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

USTA president was at the Family Circle, looked like he was having a good time. I expect Charleston to get the men's clay championship, dual event with wta Family Circle. Stadium issue won't be a big deal. It's a wta tier 1 with most of the top women, they'll get the stadium court. Most of the men will play on the other courts, b/c there are not many big names.

Did you say there aren't many big names on the men's side and that women would get the stadium court??
That is exactly why Atlanta will probably get the bid.....just incase you haven't noticed players like Agassi, Roddick, Blake, Haas, etc. were and are still usuals at the US men's clay court championships.
The field is always VERY strong. If I was to bet, I would say that the women will stay in South Carolina and the men will either move to Atlanta or Del Ray Beach.
Charleston isn't even close to being large enough to hold 2 top level events in the same week.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by don knot

Did you say there aren't many big names on the men's side and that women would get the stadium court??
That is exactly why Atlanta will probably get the bid.....just incase you haven't noticed players like Agassi, Roddick, Blake, Haas, etc. were and are still usuals at the US men's clay court championships.
The field is always VERY strong. If I was to bet, I would say that the women will stay in South Carolina and the men will either move to Atlanta or Del Ray Beach.
Charleston isn't even close to being large enough to hold 2 top level events in the same week.

Dead wrong, the field in the men's US clay court championships has NEVER been "VERY strong." By it's definition in the points system, the tournament is not "top level." The Family Circle Cup, however, is very much a top level event on the WTA tour. Equivalent to an ATP masters.

[BigboyDan]

The US Clay Court Championships have been around forever, they'll stay on the calendar. It would be a good move to put it back in the South (it was in Orlando prior to Houston) - Atlanta would be great. After, one can zing to Monaco on a five hour flight...

[johnathan smith]

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

Dead wrong, the field in the men's US clay court championships has NEVER been "VERY strong." By it's definition in the points system, the tournament is not "top level." The Family Circle Cup, however, is very much a top level event on the WTA tour. Equivalent to an ATP masters.

Gotta disagree with you here johnny.
The last year the event was in Atlanta, it had...
Agassi
Martin
Roddick
Blake
Scrichiphan
Dent
Mallise
Bryan Bros
Chang
Fish
Ginepri
This was back in 2001 (roddick's first title), but ti's safe to assume that all of these players would still be playing the event.
There were other top notch players that have skipped my mind.
It wouldn't matter what the rankings were if half of these guys showed up every year.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by johnathan smith

Gotta disagree with you here johnny.
The last year the event was in Atlanta, it had...
Agassi
Martin
Roddick
Blake
Scrichiphan
Dent
Mallise
Bryan Bros
Chang
Fish
Ginepri
This was back in 2001 (roddick's first title), but ti's safe to assume that all of these players would still be playing the event.
There were other top notch players that have skipped my mind.
It wouldn't matter what the rankings were if half of these guys showed up every year.

Nice list, but this is clearly an outlier year in which there were many competitive Americans. I see three retired players (4 if you want to count Dent), and one who no longer has it (Paradorn). Do I need to point out who was in the Houston final this year?

Look, one stadium is plenty on the Charleston grounds. The draw size is small enough so that everyone who deserves some stadium time can get it.

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

Nice list, but this is clearly an outlier year in which there were many competitive Americans. I see three retired players (4 if you want to count Dent), and one who no longer has it (Paradorn). Do I need to point out who was in the Houston final this year?

Look, one stadium is plenty on the Charleston grounds. The draw size is small enough so that everyone who deserves some stadium time can get it.

This was actually a pretty common field for the Atlanta tourney.
Just because they had a bad final this year doesn't mean the tourney is worthless (bad point).
Just look at the Houston draws for the last few years (loaded).

[yonex90]

I think it would be a great idea to bring a pro event to Atlanta. We hosted the Olympics so we have plenty of facilities here.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by Jonas

This was actually a pretty common field for the Atlanta tourney.
Just because they had a bad final this year doesn't mean the tourney is worthless (bad point).
Just look at the Houston draws for the last few years (loaded).

I never said the tournament was worthless.

No, the Houston draw was never "loaded." The top Euro's, South Americans, and Austrailans typically don't show.

Charleston's grounds can accomodate a combo WTA-ATP event.

[andfor]

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

I never said the tournament was worthless.

No, the Houston draw was never "loaded." The top Euro's, South Americans, and Austrailans typically don't show.

Charleston's grounds can accomodate a combo WTA-ATP event.

Once again baseless and unfair indictments of talent at a US based tournament. Your assumptions are mearly that. The only fair comparision is to compare Houston to it same week counterpart Valencia. The cut for Houston was 99 and the cut for Valencia was 105. The winner for Houston was Karlovic and the winner for Valencia was Almagro. The top seed pulled out of each, Roddick in Houston and Ferrer in Valencia. If you ask me when you add it up what's the big difference between the two? Uhhh, Houston was better IMO.

BTW - Vegas has a lower cut than Alcapulco and Vegas also had better names in the draw. Thus American tournaments have better talent and names than Europenan and South American tournaments.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by andfor

Once again baseless and unfair indictments of talent at a US based tournament. Your assumptions are mearly that. The only fair comparision is to compare Houston to it same week counterpart Valencia. The cut for Houston was 99 and the cut for Valencia was 105. The winner for Houston was Karlovic and the winner for Valencia was Almagro. The top seed pulled out of each, Roddick in Houston and Ferrer in Valencia. If you ask me when you add it up what's the big difference between the two? Uhhh, Houston was better IMO.

BTW - Vegas has a lower cut than Alcapulco and Vegas also had better names in the draw. Thus American tournaments have better talent and names than Europenan and South American tournaments.

I'm not arguing Houston vs Valencia or other similar level tournaments. I'm simply arguing that the grounds at Charleston (with only one stadium) can accomodate a combo WTA-ATP event. The WTA part of it will have nearly all the top players in the sport (it's a tier 1). The ATP part of it will only have a few of the top players. Therefore, many of the stadium matches will feature the women. The likes of Roddick, Blake, and maybe a few other ATP players will also get some stadium time. One stadium is enough for a combo event with a smaller draw. Lots of highly ranked women, a few top men.

GET MY POINT?!?

[andfor]

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

I'm not arguing Houston vs Valencia or other similar level tournaments. I'm simply arguing that the grounds at Charleston (with only one stadium) can accomodate a combo WTA-ATP event. The WTA part of it will have nearly all the top players in the sport (it's a tier 1). The ATP part of it will only have a few of the top players. Therefore, many of the stadium matches will feature the women. The likes of Roddick, Blake, and maybe a few other ATP players will also get some stadium time. One stadium is enough for a combo event with a smaller draw. Lots of highly ranked women, a few top men.

GET MY POINT?!?

I get your point. Check out Memphis. Tier 1 mens event and Tier 3 womens event. Memphis had its biggest draw ever this year. Also, I think your a little off on the scheduling concerning stadium time, again see Memphis. Stadium scheduling is not as big an issue as you're making it out to be.

A mens/womems combo event at Charleston will work.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by andfor

Stadium scheduling is not as big an issue as you're making it out to be.

A mens/womems combo event at Charleston will work.

Thanks. I'm not making an issue out the stadium, the guy in post #4 brought it up as a problem. I agree with you, won't be a problem.