Hamburg, change it to grass???

[harrpau7]

Ok, there is a lot of talk at the moment about changing the Masters Series schedule for 2009, and Hamburg looks to be doomed. However they are going to kick off (with good reason) about being downgraded from a Masters Series event.

The ATP needs a grass Masters Series title IMO, some people have said to make Queens/Halle a Masters Series event, however what if the ATP and Hamburg came to some sort of arrangement and change Hamburg from Clay to Grass. Hamburg seems to be the least prestigious of the 3 clay Masters Series so that should go, but as a compromise give them a Grass Masters Series, and keep Monte Carlo and Rome as the 2 clay court titles.

Thoughts?

 

[forzainter]

i like this idea

 

[aramis]

Agree; Hamburg always gets the worst entry fields out of the three AMS since it is so close to RG and right after Roma. It would be cooler as a grass court event, and I think German players play better on grass anyway so it would be good for them. RG could then be moved forward a week or two, giving enough space for the grass court AMS prior to Wimbledon.

 

[tintin]

Agree; Hamburg always gets the worst entry fields out of the three AMS since it is so close to RG and right after Roma. It would be cooler as a grass court event, and I think German players play better on grass anyway so it would be good for them. RG could then be moved forward a week or two, giving enough space for the grass court AMS prior to Wimbledon.

no slam will ever move the dates mate,never!

 

[harrpau7]

no slam will ever move the dates mate,never!

Why not? The calendar is changing, why can't the French go forward a week or two?

 

[Rhino]

That is a great idea! 3 masters series on clay is a bit much when there is no grass MS. they would need to swap Hamburg with the FO though, schedule wise, as aramis says.

 

[caulcano]

Ok, there is a lot of talk at the moment about changing the Masters Series schedule for 2009, and Hamburg looks to be doomed. However they are going to kick off (with good reason) about being downgraded from a Masters Series event.

The ATP needs a grass Masters Series title IMO, some people have said to make Queens/Halle a Masters Series event, however what if the ATP and Hamburg came to some sort of arrangement and change Hamburg from Clay to Grass. Hamburg seems to be the least prestigious of the 3 clay Masters Series so that should go, but as a compromise give them a Grass Masters Series, and keep Monte Carlo and Rome as the 2 clay court titles.

Thoughts?

Sounds good.

no slam will ever move the dates mate,never!

Never say never, because the AUS Open moved from the end of the year to the beginning of the year.

 

[harrpau7]

well the french open could go forward a week and i think a total overhaul of the grass season shud be made, perhaps move wimbledon back and get rid of the clay tournament straight after wimbledon

 

[Tchocky]

It's an interesting idea.

 

[Rosebud]

Yes interesting idea, but only in theory I think and hardly new. The more important question and one which should precede this one, is whether there will ever be enough room in the schedule to fit in a Masters on grass. I doubt it. Not even if the French and/or Wimbledon move back/up a bit. Also, is it only me who finds it strange how people who now consider Hamburg an inconvience for the players, because it is situated between Rome and the French, in the same breath plead for a masters between the French and Wimbledon?
Apart from all that I doubt that Germany would want to take on the organization of such a big event on grass. Hamburg has never in it's history had grass. Other than Halle there is no experience with that surface and Halle is very provincial compared to Wimbledon. And if the French and Wimbledon should ever agree to another date then that immediately eliminates whatever problems some may have with Hamburg.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Why not? The calendar is changing, why can't the French go forward a week or two?

The ATP calendar is changing, yes. The Slams are not part of the atp, so no one can make them move. Considering how successful they are, the chances of either the French or Wimbledon deciding to change their spot on the calendar is close to nil. They have no reason to.

well the french open could go forward a week and i think a total overhaul of the grass season shud be made, perhaps move wimbledon back and get rid of the clay tournament straight after wimbledon

Change is never easy, especially for a static sport like tennis. But if you scrap any event on tour, there will likely be lawsuits(like there are now with Monte Carlo & Hamburg)

Also, is it only me who finds it strange how people who now consider Hamburg an inconvience for the players, because it is situated between Rome and the French, in the same breath plead for a masters between the French and Wimbledon?

Yeah, exactly. Somehow I doubt any of the top players would want to play a mandatory masters series in between the French & Wimbledon, that's too much risk of burning out so close to a slam.

Other than Halle there is no experience with that surface and Halle is very provincial compared to Wimbledon.

From what I've read, there are no grasscourt events(Queens/Halle) that meet the atp standards for masters series(in terms of courts, seating capacity, etc)

Never say never, because the AUS Open moved from the end of the year to the beginning of the year.

Because in doing so, they helped their event(which had descended into irrelevancy at the time) How could moving help either Wimbledon or the French? they make so much money as it is now.

 

[edmondsm]

I think they should make Queens a masters event before they create more grass tourneys.

 

[quest01]

I agree that we need a grass court Masters Series event.

 

[Buuurnz]

hamburg will def. not turn into a grass court event haha...that's just how it is! forget this idea!

 

[gshaffer23]

hamburg will def. not turn into a grass court event haha...that's just how it is! forget this idea!

I agree mate.... not going to happen.

At least u got tickets for this year's final