Decline in popularity of masters tennis

[nolefam_2024]

During early 2000s with rise of Nadal, the masters 1000 events gained peak popularity with matches like Rome 2005/2006. At one point he and Federer won 8 out of 9 masters.

Then Djokovic made waves by winning a couple of masters in 2007 and Andy Murray joined in 2008.

Between 2008 to 2016, the masters level field was very strong with big 3 and Andy playing most masters. There were rare occurrences like Bercy 2012 where a non big 3 plus Andy even win anything.

There was a period of time between 2013/2014 where Nole and Rafa won all 9 masters.

But since 2017, there is sharp decline in masters events. First there was Dimitrov vs Kyrgios in Cincinnati. And it has watered down further since covid. Nowadays it's not unimaginable to see non top 10 players winning a masters title.

Does a masters title really mean anything in 2023? I see Alcaraz being pumped for only slams already and he is just 20. The decline in ATP finals can't be such because there is a criteria of only top 8 players to even participate. And in slams the goat race kept the competition at high level.

But on masters level it has been almost as random as WTA. This year's masters finalists include players like this.

Rublev vs Rune

Stuff

Medvedev on clay

Alex De Minaur

Hurkacz vs Rublev

 

[TennisXpert@2023]

It is lots of reasons for that which includes inconsistent play, no very good top notch players playing where the Masters tournaments can promote going deep to draw crowds. No big 3 or Murray type players being around hurts prestige due to inconsistent fields. Every professional sport needs big names who carry aura.

 

[InsuranceMan]

Tf? Yes a masters title matters. Talk to literally any player. I know guys that would kill for something like that, seems like a dream

Big 3 fanboys better come down to earth and get in touch with the actual sport

 

[Milanez82]

Tennis is back to old normal. Before the Big 3 a bunch of lesser players would always win a master here and there and none of top players were dominant.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

Tennis is back to old normal. Before the Big 3 a bunch of lesser players would always win a master here and there and none of top players were dominant.

Just wait until Alcaraz/Sinner make clean sweep back-to-back-to-back seasons in 2027-2029...LOL

 

[Mainad]

During early 2000s with rise of Nadal, the masters 1000 events gained peak popularity with matches like Rome 2005/2006. At one point he and Federer won 8 out of 9 Masters.

There was a period of time between 2013/2014 where Nole and Rafa won all 9 masters.

Nadal and Federer never won more than 7 out of 9 Masters (slots). Nadal lacks Miami and Paris, Federer lacks Monte Carlo and Rome.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

Nadal and Federer never won more than 7 out of 9 Masters (slots). Nadal lacks Miami and Paris, Federer lacks Monte Carlo and Rome.

What does this has to do with anything? He says about number of masters titles shared between two in particular season...LOL

 

[Mainad]

What does this has to do with anything? He says about number of masters titles shared between two in particular season...LOL

OP said Nadal and Federer won 8 out of 9 Masters and, a bit later, that Rafa won all 9 Masters. That was never true. They may have won 8 or 9 Masters titles but, as I have tried to explain, that's different.

 

[FedeRadi]

OP said Nadal and Federer won 8 out of 9 Masters and, a bit later, that Rafa won all 9 Masters. That was never true. They may have won 8 or 9 Masters titles but, as I have tried to explain, that's different.

It could've been explained better but I think he means:
-Federer and Rafa won 8/9 masters played in 2005. (Splitting them between the two)
-Nole and Rafa won all masters played in a period between 2013 and 2014. I guess he refers to MC13-MIA14, when Rafa held 4 titles and Nole 5.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Nadal and Federer never won more than 7 out of 9 Masters (slots). Nadal lacks Miami and Paris, Federer lacks Monte Carlo and Rome.

This is combined. Combined Nadal and Federer held 8 out of 9 masters once and Rafole went a step further holding 9/9 between mc 2013 to Miami 2014 iirc

 

[Fedeonic]

Masters 1000 are more enjoyable these years with Djokovic not playing more than half of them, and Carlitos still being "inconsistent".
OTOH, Grand Slams are super boring, with the same winner every other major.

 

[ollinger]

Saw the thread title and immediately expected data demonstrating that the "popularity" of these events has declined.
The OP presents NONE.
Dopey thread.

 

[game..set..match]

decline in popularity of because of the ATP and their marketing failures.

 

[accidental]

I thought this thread was going to be about seniors tennis, which also seems to have declined since top ATP players are playing into their late 30’s

 

[The Sinner]

When you have players like Norrie winning a Masters event, it definitely starts to raise questions as per OP. Totally agree! Since decline of Big 3 + Muzza, the events have lost some kind of interest.

 

[nolefam_2024]

When you have players like Norrie winning a Masters event, it definitely starts to raise questions as per OP. Totally agree! Since decline of Big 3 + Muzza, the events have lost some kind of interest.

Oh wow. I completely forgot that Norrie won a masters.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The big 3 killed tennis. Even these guys winning a slam post the big 3 era will feel like nothing. Obviously it's important to the players of course but I mean as a fan it's like ehh, cool.

 

[Fabresque]

Rublev vs Rune

Stuff

Medvedev on clay

Alex De Minaur

Hurkacz vs Rublev

#5 vs #6 ATP

Lost to #1 ATP

#3 ATP

Lost to #4 ATP

Former top 10 ATP vs #5 ATP

It really isn’t as bad as people think. Cincinnati final was the best match of the season between the top 2 players in the world.

 

[Fabresque]

The big 3 killed tennis. Even these guys winning a slam post the big 3 era will feel like nothing. Obviously it's important to the players of course but I mean as a fan it's like ehh, cool.

My only thing is the Big 3 set the standards waaaaaay too high so that everyone that follows them is on a path of complete failure.

How many threads have we seen this year alone about Alcaraz/Medvedev and how poor they’ve been or how they aren’t doing enough? Alcaraz is 20 years old and has two slams and people are saying it’s been a disappointing season because someone else won 3 slams.

The guy who won 3 slams was literally Djokovic. A guy who has 24 of them.

Federer Nadal and Djokovic set the bar to the absolute extreme because that’s what they needed to do to outdo each other, to the point that nobody else has a chance to match it and everyone is seen as “boring” or “a failure”.

 

[MichaelNadal]

My only thing is the Big 3 set the standards waaaaaay too high so that everyone that follows them is on a path of complete failure.

How many threads have we seen this year alone about Alcaraz/Medvedev and how poor they’ve been or how they aren’t doing enough? Alcaraz is 20 years old and has two slams and people are saying it’s been a disappointing season because someone else won 3 slams.

The guy who won 3 slams was literally Djokovic. A guy who has 24 of them.

Federer Nadal and Djokovic set the bar to the absolute extreme because that’s what they needed to do to outdo each other, to the point that nobody else has a chance to match it and everyone is seen as “boring” or “a failure”.

Exactly. It was so epic while it was happening but now that they've wrecked tennis to the degree that they have, the bar is so high for the satisfaction we had of our players making final after final and winning so many tournaments every year, that everything will be extremely underwhelming now. These guys will be lucky to even have a career like Wawrinka.

 

[Born_to_slice]

That's pretty normal. It was so long all about big 3 and for some time lately all about slam race.

 

[CHIP72]

Saw the thread title and immediately expected data demonstrating that the "popularity" of these events has declined.
The OP presents NONE.
Dopey thread.

Yeah - my girlfriend and I finalized plans about 1 1/2 weeks ago to attend Indian Wells next year, buying day session, Stadium 1 tickets for the 3rd round (Sunday and Monday). (We may also buy night session Stadium 1 tickets for those same days.) I'm definitely psyched about attending and getting 3/4 of the way towards completing what I like to call "the U.S. Grand Slam" (the four big tournaments in the U.S. - U.S. Open, Indian Wells, Miami, and Cincinnati). I'm already thinking about going to Miami in 2025. (Hell, I'm giving thought to trying to go tToronto, Montreal, and the women's only Guadalajara Masters And I really enjoyed going to suburban Cincinnati for the Western & Southern Open in 2022.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

I don't count any of the masters with best-of-3 set finals.

 

[Milanez82]

I don't count any of the masters with best-of-3 set finals.

Good for you.