16 seeds in slams is dead

Well then, looks like the 32 seeds are here to stay, after all. ITF backpedaled on its decision to go back to 16 seeds, so we're stuck with the current system. Apparently, they discussed it between tournament officials and listened to players' input, and decided it wasn't worth it.

Federer wanted tennis to go back to 16 seeds as he felt there were too many easy matches in the first rounds, and the first week would be more interesting with the prospect of facing a top 20 player from the get-go. But then, good matches in week one and possible upsets are not what the powers-that-be are aiming for (especially the upsets), so it looks like we're stuck with the beatdowns for the foreseeable future.

They should have gone back to 16 seeds.

merlinpinpin said:

But then, good matches in week one and possible upsets are not what the powers-that-be are aiming for (especially the upsets), so it looks like we're stuck with the beatdowns for the foreseeable future.

Click to expand...

Why aren't they aiming for it? Tennis desperately needs new star names. They can't live off the big 4 like this all the time.

Mustard said:

Why aren't they aiming for it? Tennis desperately needs new star names. They can't live off the big 4 like this all the time.

Click to expand...

I know, but it looks like all they're willing to do is protect the big names to 'guarantee' marquee finals and semis so as to sell more TV rights (which they're not getting anymore anyway, if the last few years are anything to go by). And then, what happens in a few years time, when the top 3 are gone and the ATP needs to rebuild everything from scratch after investing so much on them and them alone?

Cowards.

merlinpinpin said:

Federer wanted tennis to go back to 16 seeds as he felt there were too many easy matches in the first rounds, and the first week would be more interesting with the prospect of facing a top 20 player from the get-go.

Click to expand...

And now he is afraid of the Millmans?

Give me 4 seeds only. I want chaos

so is tennis

Milehigh5280 said:

Give me 4 seeds only. I want chaos

Click to expand...

I’d spice it with a Serena tantrum here and there.

ibbi said:

Cowards.

Click to expand...

So 16 is braver than 32.

Bummer. It's not a surprising decision because having more seeds is in their short-term interest, as it maximizes the chance that the later rounds will be dominated by top players. But it's not in their long-term interest, because it maximizes the chance that there will come a time when there's a vacuum at the top rather than a smooth transition between generations. Perhaps they'll increase to 64 seeds instead. And one day they can just seed all 128 players and dispense with a draw ceremony altogether, just announcing that it is 1 v 128, 65 v 64, 33 v 96, 97 v 32, etc.