ScovilleJenkins
Rookie
I keep hearing how Miami is the 5th Grand Slam. What makes it better than Indian Wells?
5th Grand Slam
- Thread starter ScovilleJenkins
- Start date
ihearit1st
Rookie
Monte Carlo is out because its not WTA and ATP. So it wouldn't fit the "grand slam" style category.
Indian Wells would be up there with Miami.
Indian Wells would be up there with Miami.
rubberduckies
Professional
The Italian Open / Rome Masters is the 5th slam.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
I agree that Monte Carlo is the most presitgious Masters Series. Americans always make more of the touraments in their location. Even as an American, I find that annoying.
JediMindTrick
Hall of Fame
Indian Wells is the 5th grand slam. Miami is a wannabe.
Mungo73
Banned
yeah but man it sucks when we have to wait for womens matches to finish, choke after choke...i like mens tourneys better
i cant wait for monte carlo, vamos rafa!!!!
ihearit1st
Rookie
Italian Open is much smaller than Indian Wells or Sony Ericsson for women. 2 million in prize money vs. 4.5 million.
They also wouldn't fit the "grand slam" mold because they do not run at the same time.
ihearit1st
Rookie
This isn't at all relevant to the topic.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
Alright Indian Wells and Miami are the biggest according to the organization of them. I find that annoying that we have so many big hard court tournaments. There should be more big clay court tournaments. Balance out them at least. Maybe downgrade Miami to regular Masters format and upgrade Monte Carlo.
chlsmo
Semi-Pro
Isn't Ion Tiriac (sp.) working on that? I think the new Madrid 1000 is a ATP/WTA clay event. Still only one week though, I think.
stormholloway
Legend
Borg declared the Italian Open the '5th slam' when he was playing. Actually, he considered it greater than the Australian and thought it should replace that tournament.
Most of what people talk about on this subject is nonsense. Instead of just calling something a slam, people should focus more on what would actually make the tournament better for the sport.
Most of what people talk about on this subject is nonsense. Instead of just calling something a slam, people should focus more on what would actually make the tournament better for the sport.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Maybe that is why it won "The best tournament award" many years in a row???
I think IW is a wannabe...
Bud
Bionic Poster
Which tournament has been held longer? :wink:
Miami started in 1985
IW started in 1988
ruerooo
Legend
Miami, despite a large Spanish-speaking population, is in North America.
Why would it be called a slam of South America?
Bud
Bionic Poster
He wasn't referring to Miami.
ruerooo
Legend
I think they're trying to build up the Johannesburg tournament that Tsonga won this year to be that.
I'm not sure what kind of progress has been made so far, though.
That alone make IW a "better" tournament.
Just kidding . . . well, maybe not totally. I also find this talk about Miami/IW "interesting". Just that, "talk". I don't really care. Been going to IW every year for a few now, and after seeing the draw for Surise this year, I just might make Fort Lauderdale/MIami into an extended vacation next year. Hmmm, let's see, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, of opening weekend at IW; fly to Fort Lauderdale to catch the Sunrise tournament, then a few days at Crandon Park. Stay with daughter and her husband while also visiting the grandkids. Sounds nice!
Bud
Bionic Poster
I figured he/she was incorrectly referring to Monte Carlo... thinking it was the Montecarlo in Argentina.
That made more sense since NY (i.e. North America) already has a GS Tourny, the US Open and neither Miami nor IW is in South America.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
"Most of what people talk about on this subject is nonsense"
It's hardly nonsense. It's good marketing. The Miami Masters draws a huge and enthusiastic crowd from Central and South American countries to see the "South American Slam."
As for Borg's comments. I think what he said was correct in the late 70s and arguably into the early 80s. A lot has changed since. Rome is way down the list of player/sponsor priorities today. And The Australian was resurrected from the dead to be a full-fledged member of the GS.
It's hardly nonsense. It's good marketing. The Miami Masters draws a huge and enthusiastic crowd from Central and South American countries to see the "South American Slam."
As for Borg's comments. I think what he said was correct in the late 70s and arguably into the early 80s. A lot has changed since. Rome is way down the list of player/sponsor priorities today. And The Australian was resurrected from the dead to be a full-fledged member of the GS.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Well, color me wrong
I've never heard it referred to as that. Perhaps, if you're from SA, you're aware of that moniker.
Musta been why all those obnoxious Delpo supporters were in the crowd during the Nadal match :twisted:
leonidas1982
Hall of Fame
Miami does get the highest tv ratings in Latin America outside of the slams. moreover, many residents of Latin America travel to Miami for the tournament.
clayman2000
Hall of Fame
This is actually from the past, as a while ago, IW was a 64 draw like all the other masters, and Miami was the only 96. Thus since it had the largest draws for both men and women outside the slams, it was coined the 5th Major.
In terms of the most important Masters, i really doubt that any of the clay masters are seen as the most important, even to clay courters. This is becuase traditionally, a lot of big seeds go out early and there are usually surprise players at the end of tourneys (eg. Wawrinka Rome 08, Gonzo Rome 07, Stepanek Hamburg 06), so it has a rep of thus not being important.
It doesn't have a rep for not being important, not at all imo. "Surprises" happen at hard court masters too. Remember guys like Bhodan Uhlirach, Andrei Pavel, and worst of all HAREL LEVY (a *career* challenger level guy outside of this one run basically) made their greatest glories at hardcourt masters events. It's inevitable. Just because Felip Dewulf made it deep at the French two years in a row doesn't mean the French isn't prestigious anymore. Just because Wally Masur once almost made the finals of the US Open doesn't mean it's not prestigious anymore.
Miami WAS considered the "5th slam" in the 80s and most of the nineties, but imo, that is no longer the case. Imo, Miami was once considered MUCH more prestigious than it is now, back when it was called the Lipton. Imo, it lost its "brand appeal" and became generic sounding when they lost Lipton as their title sponsor. The name was synonymous with the tournament, and once a tournament loses it's ESTABLISHED "brand" name, I think it's difficult to recover from that. Furthermore, back then, Miami was the ONLY tournament outside the slams to field two-gender draws. Indian Wells IS the wannabe these days, but the problem for Maimi is that Indian Wells has done a VERY good job of putting on a world class tournament themselves, and in doing so, their prestige has grown, and Miami's has lessened significantly. Miami is no longer the star, it's been "caught up" to by other ambitious tournament organizeers who've upped the ante.
Winning Miami today is NOWHERE near as "prestigious" as it was when Muster won it in 97 imo. Back then, it really must have felt like something to him. These days, however, I think the tournament is more or less seen AND treated as just another masters series to most players. Yeah, it's still a little more important, but no longer MUCH more important "feeling" than the other masters series events. A Miami win before meant something...today it kind of just feels like, ok, so you won a masters series, good for you, what do you want, a Tennis Warehouse party for your troubles?
tennis_hand
Hall of Fame
why is Monte carlo most prestigious? because it is in MC? that is also slow clay bull-****.
after the 4 Slams, it is the year end championship. No argument about it.
Kobble
Hall of Fame
I agree. I don't know why they lost Lipton as the sponsor. I still called it the Lipton even years after they changed. I really wish I went there pre-1998. Once, I had the freetime to go it was basically a spanish speaking region. The year I went was disappointing. The rude foreigners were simply too much. These people live in shacks in Hialiah, now, and stole at fruit stands in their old country. Apparently, they are attracted to the Miami ghettos, so, I don't see how we can do anything about. Except, maybe move them to Opa Locka, or something.
Blinkism
Legend
The Olympics are the closest thing to a Slam, I guess. It's kind of like the World Cup (soccer/football) in a sense.
The YEC are also pretty much the next best thing, on a yearly basis.
I've heard that by 2011 or 2012 the Master's series tourneys will all be combined men's/women's events and 2 weeks long. Anybody else hear this?
The YEC are also pretty much the next best thing, on a yearly basis.
I've heard that by 2011 or 2012 the Master's series tourneys will all be combined men's/women's events and 2 weeks long. Anybody else hear this?
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
There is some precedent for Miami being the "5th Slam", though I think that claim has always been more of a marketing term to get across the point that Miami is "big and important" than it is actually a belief that it is the 5th Slam.
Anyway, back when Miami was the "Lipton Championships" it was a bigger draw (128 or 96 I believe) and every round for a couple years was best of 5 sets. It had the big field, the sponsors, the TV coverage, and the format was similar to a Slam, and prize money was pretty big (it may have been more than the AO), so the 5th Slam talk started. Pay no mind to it. It's just a way to separate one non-Slam from the others.
D
Deleted member 3771
Guest
Then the Olympics
then the 4 slams
then the Davis cup and the masters cup
then the masters series events
then the 4 slams
then the Davis cup and the masters cup
then the masters series events
Safinator_1
Professional
Miami is in no way a 5th Slam, If there is such thing that title belongs to the Masters Cup or Tour end Championship whatever. Saying that is also a long shot itself.
I really don't think a 5th slam is necessary, the 4 we have is fine
I really don't think a 5th slam is necessary, the 4 we have is fine
Blinkism
Legend
The Aussie open is still kind of lacking in slam-ness... slam-ocity?
I think the key to a slam having some tradition would be for a single player to win it, atleast 3 times consecutively and atleast 5 times in their career. Andre Agassi is the closest thing to it, but a player who dominates the Australian Open will be attached to it's overall aura. Kind of like how Borg and Nadal own the French Open, and Sampras and Federer own Wimbledon.
Also, the Aussie Open is seen as the lesser hardcourt Grand Slam because of it's similarity to the U.S. Open, which itself is prestigious. Maybe another change of surface is needed? Carpet slam?
THERAFA
Banned
Yeah Carpet slam sounds good to me, and change Sydney International and Adelaide Invitational and Tasmania and Hopman Cup to carpet too to make a full season of it.
I was disappointed when AO got rid of the rebound ace. I liked rebound ace especially when it was really slow, very good contrast back then.
I was disappointed when AO got rid of the rebound ace. I liked rebound ace especially when it was really slow, very good contrast back then.
Blinkism
Legend
And a Carpet Slam would bring back some of the 90's style of play with the whole chip-and-charge and serve-and-volley thing going on.
I mean, if there's going to be any carpet tournaments played on the ATP tour, why not make a season out of it, or at the very least cap it off with a Master's Event (like Paris used to be).
Starting the year off with a Carpet season would be hilarious, just to see players adjust from the speed of the Carpet, then to the slow Clay, and then to Grass, and then to Hardcourts.
Definitely more entertaining!
IW has the highest fan attendance outside the 4 Slams. Miami, due to the fact that the Williams sisters do not play IW, has what some feel is the strongest field outside the Slams. 6 of 1, 1/2 a dozen of the other...
Re: carpet--carpet is hardly used on the tours at all anymore. It's obsolete.
Re: carpet--carpet is hardly used on the tours at all anymore. It's obsolete.
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Fee
Legend
Never has been, never will be.
My apologies if this answer has been given, I did not have time to read the entire thread... Miami is referred to as the '5th Slam' because years ago it was almost as large as a slam, it even had a mixed doubles draw. IW was a one week women's event followed by a one week men's event at the Hyatt Resort until about 10 years ago when the IW Tennis Garden was built. Miami was a mixed event years before that, back in the day when it was called The Lipton Championships. Miami used the 5th Slam nickname for years before IW tried to steal it.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
no 5th slam, but appart from the slams the most prestigious tournaments is without any doubt the (year-end) masters.
stormholloway
Legend
Miami is a completely obnoxious tournament in my view. Lot of hecklers.
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