N
nikdom
Guest
(this is a rough idea, haven't thought through all the ramifications, so it needs your suggestions!)
Essential Idea: combine Next Gen Finals* and World Tour Finals.
* Make the WTF a 2 week event. The Top 8 starts in Week 2, with a caveat - The Top 8 isn't decided until Week 1 is over!
* Week 1 is an invitation-only event of NON-Top 6, (as of the beginning of the tournament) with a field of 10 (4 under-21s, 4 over-21s in order of ranking, plus 7, 8 ranked players). The 7th and 8th ranked players get a bye until the week 1 'challenger finals'. So 8 players are competing for 2 spots to battle the 7th and 8th ranked players.
* Invitation-only means that it is non-essential. If a player chooses not to play, the next ranked player is given the opportunity to participate. This way those who prefer to end their season for rest can.
* The format for week 1 is the same as NextGenFinals - 2 short sets and a tiebreaker. No-let etc
* One player emerges from the 4 under-21's and one from the 4 over-21s. Player ranked 7 has to play the over-21 winner and 8 the under-21 winner. This is the week 1 'challenger finals'. The two winners of these challengers get 250 points each.
* The Top 8 is now recalculated (realistically, only the 7 and 8 spots will be in play because there is a big dropoff in points after 6) and if the Top 8 field hasn't changed from the beginning of the tournament, then players in the new order of ranking outside Top 8 get to be alternates for week 2
What does this do?
First of all, by giving ranking points to the 'winners' of week 1, we are mixing up not only the field for week 2 but also giving a hot player the opportunity to start the new year with better ranking and a shot to move up even higher with favorable seedings.
Week 1 is a mix of young players and those in the 10-25 rank range to make a move at the end of the year, which is otherwise do difficult to do. To earn 250 ranking points in a loaded field is tough when the top guys are competing for every bit and morsel.
It makes the WTF feel like a true year-end, indoor slam with a nice twist. Week 1 should be exciting because it will be young talents and those hungry for an opportunity to battle their way into the Top 10.
I know the there may be more to it in the specifics so this is where the detail-oriented ones among you can critique/enhance this idea.
What do you guys think?
Essential Idea: combine Next Gen Finals* and World Tour Finals.
* Make the WTF a 2 week event. The Top 8 starts in Week 2, with a caveat - The Top 8 isn't decided until Week 1 is over!
* Week 1 is an invitation-only event of NON-Top 6, (as of the beginning of the tournament) with a field of 10 (4 under-21s, 4 over-21s in order of ranking, plus 7, 8 ranked players). The 7th and 8th ranked players get a bye until the week 1 'challenger finals'. So 8 players are competing for 2 spots to battle the 7th and 8th ranked players.
* Invitation-only means that it is non-essential. If a player chooses not to play, the next ranked player is given the opportunity to participate. This way those who prefer to end their season for rest can.
* The format for week 1 is the same as NextGenFinals - 2 short sets and a tiebreaker. No-let etc
* One player emerges from the 4 under-21's and one from the 4 over-21s. Player ranked 7 has to play the over-21 winner and 8 the under-21 winner. This is the week 1 'challenger finals'. The two winners of these challengers get 250 points each.
* The Top 8 is now recalculated (realistically, only the 7 and 8 spots will be in play because there is a big dropoff in points after 6) and if the Top 8 field hasn't changed from the beginning of the tournament, then players in the new order of ranking outside Top 8 get to be alternates for week 2
What does this do?
First of all, by giving ranking points to the 'winners' of week 1, we are mixing up not only the field for week 2 but also giving a hot player the opportunity to start the new year with better ranking and a shot to move up even higher with favorable seedings.
Week 1 is a mix of young players and those in the 10-25 rank range to make a move at the end of the year, which is otherwise do difficult to do. To earn 250 ranking points in a loaded field is tough when the top guys are competing for every bit and morsel.
It makes the WTF feel like a true year-end, indoor slam with a nice twist. Week 1 should be exciting because it will be young talents and those hungry for an opportunity to battle their way into the Top 10.
I know the there may be more to it in the specifics so this is where the detail-oriented ones among you can critique/enhance this idea.
What do you guys think?