My (Ambitious) 2018 Tennis Calendar

[Krish872007]

There's been plenty of discussion on these boards over what changes the ATP and ITF could make to the calendar to incorporate a nice mix of events, destinations, playing conditions and the like.

So in keeping with this theme, I thought I'd actually flesh out what my ideal 2018 ATP Tennis Calendar would look like using actual dates:

1st week of year: ATP 250 events (Sydney, Doha, etc.)
8 - 14 January: Shanghai (Masters 1000)
15 - 21 January: Sydney & Doha (ATP 250 or 500)
22 - 28 January: Brisbane Int (Masters 1000)
5 - 18 February: 2018 Australian Open (SLAM)

26 Feb - 04 March: Rotterdam (ATP 500)
5 - 11 March: Rio Open (ATP 500)
12 - 18 March: Dubai (ATP 500)
19 - 25 March: Miami (ATP 500)

End March/Early April - slot for ATP 250s and other fixtures
8 - 15 April: Monte Carlo (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 April: Barcelona (ATP 500)
30 Apr - 6 May: Madrid (Masters 1000)
7 - 13 May: Hamburg (ATP 500)
21 - 27 May: Rome (Masters 1000)
4 - 17 June: 2018 French Open (SLAM)

25 Jun - 1 July: Stuttgart (ATP 250 or 500)
2 - 8 July: Halle (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 July: Queen's Club (Masters 1000)
End July: smaller events like Eastbourne/Newport
30 Jul - 12 August: 2018 Wimbledon (SLAM)

20 - 26 August: Washington DC (ATP 500)
27 Aug - 1 Sept: Cincinnati (Masters 1000)
7 - 16 September: Indian Wells (Masters 1000)
Mid-Sept - small gap for other small fixtures
24 Sep - 7 Oct: 2018 US Open (SLAM)

15 - 21 October: Tokyo (ATP 500)
22 - 28 October: Beijing (ATP 500)
29 Oct - 4 Nov: Vienna (ATP 500)
5 - 11 November: Basel (ATP 500)
18 - 25 November: World Tour Finals (WTF 1500)

Colour code:
Blue - denotes outdoor hard court tournaments
Pink - denote indoor hard court or carpet tournaments
Green - denotes grass court tournaments
Red - denotes clay court tournaments

Thoughts? What would you say if the ATP actually decided to go with a format like this for next season?
Feel free to shoot everything down, laugh or just flat out question it

 

[fedtennisphan]

Can Brisbane, Halle and Queens Club have the necessary things to become MS1000 tournaments? While the ATP can control when ATP tournaments are held, they can’t control GS tournaments because they fall under the ITF. The kind of changes you’re proposing are not happening in 2018.

 

[Krish872007]

Can Brisbane, Halle and Queens Club have the necessary things to become MS1000 tournaments? While the ATP can control when ATP tournaments are held, they can’t control GS tournaments because they fall under the ITF. The kind of changes you’re proposing are not happening in 2018.

Yeah, almost no chance it actually gets implemented next year - maybe in 10 years' time? Who knows
I have been to all 3 of Brisbane, Halle and Queen's and have been very impressed with their organisation. The tournament directors are transparent and constantly looking to improve facilities on offer, the events are run professionally and without much controversy. I think it's way too ambitious to raise Brisbane by 2 levels to Masters status now, but there's a very strong case for it becoming a 500 event very soon, then step by step from there I guess.
The two grass ones could become Masters events but only if the ATP and the ITF both agree to lengthen that stretch of the season and push back their other tournaments, especially Wimbledon. This would also mean they'd have to be held in separate weeks to ensure player participation, and presumably this will all only happen if the relevant parties feel that there is a net benefit - especially considering the costs of preparing and maintaining the courts.

 

[Towser83]

Would be good to have a grass masters, probably not time for 2 of them though, few players would play both I feel... Also I can't see the sense in getting rid of Paris masters being the only indoor masters or making Miami a 500. Would rather demote Shanghai or make it indoors. Or just have more masters and let players pick say 8 of 11 lets say

 

[George Turner]

Interesting schedule, just a couple of issues

-Shanghai should still be after the US open. There's no sense having it at the start of the season after which player gotta fly off down under.
-The sunshine double of Indian wells/Miami should remain otherwise there's too big a gap between Auz open and the next big tournament. Relegate the Canadian open to 500 status instead of Miami

The fact there's no grass court masters is a travesty. Would motivate more players to improve their grass game and learn different shots if there were more ranking points tied into the grass season.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Can Brisbane, Halle and Queens Club have the necessary things to become MS1000 tournaments? While the ATP can control when ATP tournaments are held, they can’t control GS tournaments because they fall under the ITF. The kind of changes you’re proposing are not happening in 2018.

No they cant as venue too small. If they make it bigger it could maybe be possible. Halle maybe? Queens in the middle of city, looks difficult to make it bigger.
Almost strange why Halle hasnt done something about it.

 

[Krish872007]

Would be good to have a grass masters, probably not time for 2 of them though, few players would play both I feel... Also I can't see the sense in getting rid of Paris masters being the only indoor masters or making Miami a 500. Would rather demote Shanghai or make it indoors. Or just have more masters and let players pick say 8 of 11 lets say

Interesting thoughts. I forgot that Paris was the only indoor Masters for a second.
Despite Miami's long history I'm not sure if it is adding enough value on the tour nowadays - that block between the AO and the clay season is definitely the toughest to analyse.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Indian Wells gets pretty hot in September, with temps in the 100s F fairly common. That tournament would need to stay in Nov-Mar to be bearable. Also I noticed the Canada Open was omitted.

 

[Krish872007]

Interesting schedule, just a couple of issues

-Shanghai should still be after the US open. There's no sense having it at the start of the season after which player gotta fly off down under.
-The sunshine double of Indian wells/Miami should remain otherwise there's too big a gap between Auz open and the next big tournament. Relegate the Canadian open to 500 status instead of Miami

The fact there's no grass court masters is a travesty. Would motivate more players to improve their grass game and learn different shots if there were more ranking points tied into the grass season.

I went with Shanghai as an example, and it is closer to Australia than most of the other places the players start their seasons at so they shouldn't feel the effects too much - e.g. Doha, Abu Dhabi, Chennai. Probably more important to see if it's actually playable at that time of year.
I can see your point on the IW - Miami double though

 

[r2473]

End March/Early April - slot for ATP 250s and other fixtures
8 - 15 April: Monte Carlo (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 April: Barcelona (ATP 500)
30 Apr - 6 May: Madrid (Masters 1000)
7 - 13 May: Hamburg (ATP 500)
21 - 27 May: Rome (Masters 1000)
4 - 17 June: 2018 French Open (SLAM)
Red - denotes clay court tournaments

It's fine except I'd scrap these tournaments and let the players take a well deserved break

 

[Towser83]

Interesting thoughts. I forgot that Paris was the only indoor Masters for a second.
Despite Miami's long history I'm not sure if it is adding enough value on the tour nowadays - that block between the AO and the clay season is definitely the toughest to analyse.

It's a hard one to rethink, I guess something has to go but like I said perhaps keep Miami as a masters and just have a less requierment. Though top players will skip more events but that might not be such a worry when Fed, Nadal and Djokovic hang up their racquets

 

[Apun94]

It's fine except I'd scrap these tournaments and let the players take a well deserved break

Lol the butthurt is real

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

I think Basel will die out when Roger retire and Vienna takes over.

Making grass master after Roger retires I dont think will happen, but I hope I am wrong. No one of the youngsters are that interested in it like it was. Even Wimbledon as a tournament I think will become less and less the "holy grail". HC and clay is the future. Youngsters love clay and are good on it. One less HC Master, one more clay master.

My ultimate wish would be equal amount of ATP masters for each surface so grass doesnt become worse quality play than it is now.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[George Turner]

I think Basel will die out when Roger retire and Vienna takes over.

Making grass master after Roger retires I dont think will happen, but I hope I am wrong. No one of the youngsters are that interested in it like it was. Even Wimbledon as a tournament I think will become less and less the "holy grail". HC and clay is the future. Youngsters love clay and are good on it. One less HC Master, one more clay master.

My ultimate wish would be equal amount of ATP masters for each surface so grass doesnt become worse quality play than it is now.

There's always been some players who don't try much at Wimbledon cos they arent suited to it (kuerten, muster, davydenko, Monfils etc.) They'll still always be others who are good there, i see shapo as a future Wimbledon champion

A more even spread of surfaces would still improve the game by encouraging different play styles which is only a good thing.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

There's always been some players who don't try much at Wimbledon cos they arent suited to it (kuerten, muster, davydenko, Monfils etc.) They'll still always be others who are good there, i see shapo as a future Wimbledon champion

A more even spread of surfaces would still improve the game by encouraging different play styles which is only a good thing.

Absolutely. Why cant USA have a couple of grass tournaments? European masters already epic and historical and difficult to change. They sell out tickets so fast and expensive, people here love clay. Either USA and China have to change and make some better stuff so more people come to watch. Absurd you can get a 100 dollar ticket for a final in Miami
Im not saying tickets should be expensive, but it says something about the interest for the sport. Or move more masters to Europe outdoors. Maybe even having WTF on grass in f.ex India where people are starting to really like tennis and nice temperature in the winter. Indoor tennis also not that classy and not so nice courts. Paris masters...why? Its incredible bad compared to the others, heck... many 500s are better. I bet if the players played a master and wtf outdoors it would be better play even late in the season. The sun does something with the players.
Problem is-- Where is it a lot people interested in tennis to attract a good crowd, and where is it nice courts and then evenly spread out surfaces.

Hehe, Im visionary, and I see far bigger changes could have been done. But of course all this costs a huge amount of money to happen so nothing will be done.
WTF could have been a great event! Not like it is now. Its so bad ending season is like this, getting bargain tickets, watching w drunk people and cold damp London.
How about a grass WTF in Australia? They love tennis too and nice weather.

I have a dream....that will never happen

 

[George Turner]

Absolutely. Why cant USA have a couple of grass tournaments? European masters already epic and historical and difficult to change. They sell out tickets so fast and expensive, people here love clay. Either USA and China have to change and make some better stuff so more people come to watch. Absurd you can get a 100 dollar ticket for a final in Miami
Im not saying tickets should be expensive, but it says something about the interest for the sport. Or move more masters to Europe outdoors. Maybe even having WTF on grass in f.ex India where people are starting to really like tennis and nice temperature in the winter. Indoor tennis also not that classy and not so nice courts. Paris masters...why? Its incredible bad compared to the others, heck... many 500s are better. I bet if the players played a master and wtf outdoors it would be better play even late in the season. The sun does something with the players.
Problem is-- Where is it a lot people interested in tennis to attract a good crowd, and where is it nice courts and then evenly spread out surfaces.

Hehe, Im visionary, but I see far bigger changes could have been done. But of course all this costs a huge amount of money to happen so nothing will be done.
WTF could have been a great event! Not like it is now. Its so bad ending season is like this, getting bargain tickets, watching w drunk people and cold damp London.
How about a grass WTF in Australia? They love tennis too and nice weather.

I have a dream....that will never happen

I have lots of dreams that never seem to happen!

I'm not sure why they don't add more variety to the surfaces, maybe the players don't want it? You don't even need to worry about history, heck the US open has been played on grass and clay!

Dunno what you got against indoors though, indoor tennis is enjoyable. Especially on carpet which they totally got rid of for some reason. The echo you hear when you hit the ball is lush

Too bad businessmen make the decisions rather than Visionaries like you

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

I have lots of dreams that never seem to happen!

I'm not sure why they don't add more variety to the surfaces, maybe the players don't want it? You don't even need to worry about history, heck the US open has been played on grass and clay!

Dunno what you got against indoors though, indoor tennis is enjoyable. Especially on carpet which they totally got rid of for some reason. The echo you hear when you hit the ball is lush

Too bad businessmen make the decisions rather than Visionaries like you

Well its obviously HC that it will become less of w "my model" and replace w grass to have equal amount of grass, clay and HC. (ITF can be as it is)
Shanghai is the only nice indoor master, and w a tournament in China, so can keep that one.
But for year end... last master and WTF.. Best outdoors. Think about having WTF on grass in exotic India? Add more colors to it. I even have pictures in my mind how "my" grass court in India should look like, with flowers and everything This could be possible in Australia too if India cannot attract enough crowd. Last master could have been on grass too in India or Australia.
Just radically change w WTF could really bright up the tour and also make it more diverse in every way. Tennis is the most global single sport there is, but doesnt show on the courts. Why not pimp up the courts a bit too while we are on it But looks like all courts in USA except IW dont have good economy. So this is a factor there. In Europe we have almost too big crowds, makes the courts really nice as they make a lot of money having these tournaments.

And btw.. Federer wanted to get rid of carpet because its higher risk for injuries on it.
Im skeptical to carpet for that and other reasons.. It can be cancer causing. Like blue clay was not good for their health. Fake grass cancer causing too and proven in football. I love natural surfaces best, grass and clay. But Im ok w 1/3 HC if its a non toxic surface

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

When it comes to Halle, some suggesting it to become a master.

But that roof thing makes the court having hours w lines of shade on the court.
Who comes up w building something like that for a tennis court?
Cant believe this is OK for a master?
I dont even like to play with shades going on the court like that in a normal tennis club.

 

[George Turner]

Well its obviously HC that it will become less of w "my model" and replace w grass to have equal amount of grass, clay and HC. (ITF can be as it is)
Shanghai is the only nice indoor master, and w a tournament in China, so can keep that one.
But for year end... last master and WTF.. Best outdoors. Think about having WTF on grass in exotic India? Add more colors to it. I even have pictures in my mind how "my" grass court in India should look like, with flowers and everything This could be possible in Australia too if India cannot attract enough crowd. Last master could have been on grass too in India or Australia.
Just radically change w WTF could really bright up the tour and also make it more diverse in every way. Tennis is the most global single sport there is, but doesnt show on the courts. Why not pimp up the courts a bit too while we are on it But looks like all courts in USA except IW dont have good economy. So this is a factor there. In Europe we have almost too big crowds, makes the courts really nice as they make a lot of money having these tournaments.

And btw.. Federer wanted to get rid of carpet because its higher risk for injuries on it.
Im skeptical to carpet for that and other reasons.. It can be cancer causing. Like blue clay was not good for their health. Fake grass cancer causing too and proven in football. I love natural surfaces best, grass and clay. But Im ok w 1/3 HC if its a non toxic surface

Flowers on an Indian court, like around the edges? That is cute, though the way Nadal plays he'd trample on them also it could trigger players hayfever which wouldn't go down well!

Who said carpet courts cause cancer? I'd love to see the evidence of that. If you want natural surfaces you could play on wooden courts, faster than grass.

 

[Zeref]

Well its obviously HC that it will become less of w "my model" and replace w grass to have equal amount of grass, clay and HC. (ITF can be as it is)
Shanghai is the only nice indoor master, and w a tournament in China, so can keep that one.
But for year end... last master and WTF.. Best outdoors. Think about having WTF on grass in exotic India? Add more colors to it. I even have pictures in my mind how "my" grass court in India should look like, with flowers and everything This could be possible in Australia too if India cannot attract enough crowd. Last master could have been on grass too in India or Australia.
Just radically change w WTF could really bright up the tour and also make it more diverse in every way. Tennis is the most global single sport there is, but doesnt show on the courts. Why not pimp up the courts a bit too while we are on it But looks like all courts in USA except IW dont have good economy. So this is a factor there. In Europe we have almost too big crowds, makes the courts really nice as they make a lot of money having these tournaments.

And btw.. Federer wanted to get rid of carpet because its higher risk for injuries on it.
Im skeptical to carpet for that and other reasons.. It can be cancer causing. Like blue clay was not good for their health. Fake grass cancer causing too and proven in football. I love natural surfaces best, grass and clay. But Im ok w 1/3 HC if its a non toxic surface

If Tennis authorities want TO EXPAND THIS SPORT , INDIA should b the destination. I also mentioned in one of my comments few days before, A masters should b held in India and that too grass. People would love it here and connect it to the prestige of Wimbledon, that's how tennis could expand in India.

 

[merlinpinpin]

I think Basel will die out when Roger retire and Vienna takes over.

This would be a big surprise, frankly, as Basel already was a much bigger tournament than Vienna even before Federer was born, so there's no reason it dies out soon (historically, although just a 500, it's the biggest indoor tournament out there after the Masters/WTF).

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

This would be a big surprise, frankly, as Basel already was a much bigger tournament than Vienna even before Federer was born, so there's no reason it dies out soon (historically, although just a 500, it's the biggest indoor tournament out there after the Masters/WTF).

Vienna had a great lineup this year. Things are changing.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

If Tennis authorities want TO EXPAND THIS SPORT , INDIA should b the destination. I also mentioned in one of my comments few days before, A masters should b held in India and that too grass. People would love it here and connect it to the prestige of Wimbledon, that's how tennis could expand in India.

End season w grass tournaments! Ditch Paris and maybe Basel/Vienna.
Yes India obvious choice for a grass or a grass WTF.
Do you know where in India this could be? Around Bangalore or Dehli?

South America could have more tournaments, but seems like often empty courts not many fans sadly.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Flowers on an Indian court, like around the edges? That is cute, though the way Nadal plays he'd trample on them also it could trigger players hayfever which wouldn't go down well!

Who said carpet courts cause cancer? I'd love to see the evidence of that. If you want natural surfaces you could play on wooden courts, faster than grass.

I dont see the need for bringing on new surfaces. Its more important to expand grass if we want that surface to survive. If we bring on other surfaces I fear its grass that will suffer, and players not focus on. Its difficult for players to find other surfaces than clay and HC to practice on. It will not be fair for up and coming players with tight budgets to have to travel and practice more on new surfaces they dont have easily available.

Im talking garlands like they have in India No problems w hayfever then. Ive thought of every thing End the season with a big party and firecrackers.

All kinds of commercial fabrics contains something called bromine. I have detoxed myself from it, its nasty. Im a bit "before my time" when it comes to this. There is a lot of science already out there about toxic exposure, but it takes many years before it becomes a standard for the states and homes.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Well, the first and foremost thing I want to do is turn Hamburg into a grass court masters event. It has all the facilities already in place to host a big event, one week of grass 250, followed up by Hamburg 1000 on grass, then follow it up Halle/Queens, then a week in Eastbourne, and finally Wimbledon. It would expand the grass court season, restored prestige to Hamburg, and Wimbledon would still be played in hot July summer of London.

Until that is not done, I am not even looking at anything else. And absolutely NO to changing the surface of the WTF. It has been historically an indoor event, primarily held on HC, I believe it has been on carpet a few times also. This must not change ever. Indoors is just as valid as outdoor.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Well, the first and foremost thing I want to do is turn Hamburg into a grass court masters event. It has all the facilities already in place to host a big event, one week of grass 250, followed up by Hamburg 1000 on grass, then follow it up Halle/Queens, then a week in Eastbourne, and finally Wimbledon. It would expand the grass court season, restored prestige to Hamburg, and Wimbledon would still be played in hot July summer of London.

Until that is not done, I am not even looking at anything else. And absolutely NO to changing the surface of the WTF. It has been historically an indoor event, primarily held on HC, I believe it has been on carpet a few times also. This must not change ever. Indoors is just as valid as outdoor.

I agree on Hamburg switching to grass. Its a stunning court and sad that this tournament seem to fade out. Grass there would be perfect.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I agree on Hamburg switching to grass. Its a stunning court and sad that this tournament seem to fade out. Grass there would be perfect.

It is a shame that Germany does not have at least one big tournament, considering their roots in the sport, and the players they have given us. Also, having two places, England and Germany as the two premier grass court nations of Europe, would make them stand out, as the other places are dominated by clay and indoor HC. And I am certain few would complain to an extra week on the beautiful green lawns, since we already have way too much HC and clay to go around.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

It is a shame that Germany does not have at least one big tournament, considering their roots in the sport, and the players they have given us. Also, having two places, England and Germany as the two premier grass court nations of Europe, would make them stand out, as the other places are dominated by clay and indoor HC. And I am certain few would complain to an extra week on the beautiful green lawns, since we already have way too much HC and clay to go around.

Europe have so many beautiful courts and we should use them.
But the world is changing and tennis a global sport beyond the west. I believe it would be great for tennis to expand and think new, put some big tournaments outside the west, and WTF would be a great start. Slams hard to move to new places so Im fine with the structure there. We have 2 slams on HC and WTF on HC. Wouldnt hurt to make WTF on a different surface and a new country. London already got Wimbledon and Queens. Paris has RG, no need for indoors there as well.

And yeah, there will always be people complaining, its in human nature to be scared and skeptical to changes.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Europe have so many beautiful courts and we should use them.
But the world is changing and tennis a global sport beyond the west. I believe it would be great for tennis to expand and think new, put some big tournaments outside the west, and WTF would be a great start. Slams hard to move to new places so Im fine with the structure there. We have 2 slams on HC and WTF on HC. Wouldnt hurt to make WTF on a different surface and a new country. London already got Wimbledon and Queens. Paris has RG, no need for indoors there as well.

And yeah, there will always be people complaining, its in human nature to be scared and skeptical to changes.

I don't think moving the Hamburg grass masters, if such a thing ever happened to Asia, for them then come back and then finish the rest of the grass season in Europe seems to feasible. So, in my ideal world, Germany, a country with good tennis roots should have its own big tournament, Hamburg just feeling like a bad after taste following Wimbledon, when many of the top players are either taking a summer vacation, or heading to NA to get ready for the summer HC season there. Plus, grass season imo should be at least one week longer and needs a grass masters. I am sure if Hamburg were given this opportunity they would seize it due to the increase in revenue of tickets and bigger players returning to the venue.

As for the WTF, I don't have a problem with it being hosted in other places to promote the game, but it should not be on another surface, that will turn it into a circus imo, and ruin it's tradition. WTF is traditionally an indoor HC/carpet event (carpet now extinct, hence why HC remains). It has strong legacies in MSG, when they hosted in Hanover, and especially now in O2 arena, Shanghai did a great job for a couple of years, Sydney hosted it indoors...tradition should be respected.

By all means create new exciting events in other countries, I am all for it, places like South America, India, South East Asia could be great places to host new events. Paris indoors can become the second big masters event in Asia, but if they still wish to keep them as nine masters events, then I will always want Hamburg to get that status back first.

 

[merlinpinpin]

Vienna had a great lineup this year. Things are changing.

Care to compare? Okay, there you go, here is 2017:

Vienna:
#1 - A Zverev
#2 - Thiem
#3 - PCB
#4 - Anderson
#5 - Querey
#6 - Isner
#7 - Tsonga
#8 - Schwartzman

Basel:
#1 - Federer
#2 - Cilic
#3 - Goffin
#4 - Bautista Agut
#5 - Sock
#6 - Del Potro
#7 - Mannarino
#8 - M Zverev
(Nadal was scheduled to play, too, but didn't, in the end, ie, in VB lingo, that means he chickened out and was afraid of facing Fed on his home turf... )

So, 21 grand slams (should have been 37) and 6 Masters in Basel, and a big fat zero in Vienna. and *Vienna* had the great lineup? Okay, sure...

Oh, and Vienna champion: Pouille (beat Tsonga). Basel champion: Federer (beat Del Potro). Guess which tournament scored more "points" this year as far as the history books go...

 

[merlinpinpin]

I don't think moving the Hamburg grass masters, if such a thing ever happened to Asia, for them then come back and then finish the rest of the grass season in Europe seems to feasible. So, in my ideal world, Germany, a country with good tennis roots should have its own big tournament, Hamburg just feeling like a bad after taste following Wimbledon, when many of the top players are either taking a summer vacation, or heading to NA to get ready for the summer HC season there. Plus, grass season imo should be at least one week longer and needs a grass masters. I am sure if Hamburg were given this opportunity they would seize it due to the increase in revenue of tickets and bigger players returning to the venue.

As for the WTF, I don't have a problem with it being hosted in other places to promote the game, but it should not be on another surface, that will turn it into a circus imo, and ruin it's tradition. WTF is traditionally an indoor HC/carpet event (carpet now extinct, hence why HC remains). It has strong legacies in MSG, when they hosted in Hanover, and especially now in O2 arena, Shanghai did a great job for a couple of years, Sydney hosted it indoors...tradition should be respected.

By all means create new exciting events in other countries, I am all for it, places like South America, India, South East Asia could be great places to host new events. Paris indoors can become the second big masters event in Asia, but if they still wish to keep them as nine masters events, then I will always want Hamburg to get that status back first.

Totally agree with you as far as a grass M1000 in Hamburg is concerned, although I guess it should come the week *after* Halle/Queens, not before (so we ramp up from 250 to 500 and 1000, then a 250 in Eastbourne before Wimbledon). As it is, Hamburg is dying, and yet, it's one of the earliest tennis tournaments ever, so that 's a real shame (and yes, Germany does need a big event). Demoting it to 500 status and moving it after Wimbledon really hit it big time.

(On a related topic, Monte Carlo can really thank it's lucky stars that Fed and Nadal ganged up to avoid it being demoted, although it's a bit silly that it still awards 1,000 ranking points. I know the ATP tried to keep things as simple as possible, but Monte Carlo really shouldn't be worth more than 750 points, as it's non-mandatory status means that the line-up is always (much) weaker than for other M1000's. On the other hand, IW and Miami, being bigger events with one more round, should award 1,250 points.)

 

[ibbi]

There's been plenty of discussion on these boards over what changes the ATP and ITF could make to the calendar to incorporate a nice mix of events, destinations, playing conditions and the like.

So in keeping with this theme, I thought I'd actually flesh out what my ideal 2018 ATP Tennis Calendar would look like using actual dates:

1st week of year: ATP 250 events (Sydney, Doha, etc.)
8 - 14 January: Shanghai (Masters 1000)
15 - 21 January: Sydney & Doha (ATP 250 or 500)
22 - 28 January: Brisbane Int (Masters 1000)
5 - 18 February: 2018 Australian Open (SLAM)

26 Feb - 04 March: Rotterdam (ATP 500)
5 - 11 March: Rio Open (ATP 500)
12 - 18 March: Dubai (ATP 500)
19 - 25 March: Miami (ATP 500)

End March/Early April - slot for ATP 250s and other fixtures
8 - 15 April: Monte Carlo (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 April: Barcelona (ATP 500)
30 Apr - 6 May: Madrid (Masters 1000)
7 - 13 May: Hamburg (ATP 500)
21 - 27 May: Rome (Masters 1000)
4 - 17 June: 2018 French Open (SLAM)

25 Jun - 1 July: Stuttgart (ATP 250 or 500)
2 - 8 July: Halle (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 July: Queen's Club (Masters 1000)
End July: smaller events like Eastbourne/Newport
30 Jul - 12 August: 2018 Wimbledon (SLAM)

20 - 26 August: Washington DC (ATP 500)
27 Aug - 1 Sept: Cincinnati (Masters 1000)
7 - 16 September: Indian Wells (Masters 1000)
Mid-Sept - small gap for other small fixtures
24 Sep - 7 Oct: 2018 US Open (SLAM)

15 - 21 October: Tokyo (ATP 500)
22 - 28 October: Beijing (ATP 500)
29 Oct - 4 Nov: Vienna (ATP 500)
5 - 11 November: Basel (ATP 500)
18 - 25 November: World Tour Finals (WTF 1500)

Colour code:
Blue - denotes outdoor hard court tournaments
Pink - denote indoor hard court or carpet tournaments
Green - denotes grass court tournaments
Red - denotes clay court tournaments

Thoughts? What would you say if the ATP actually decided to go with a format like this for next season?
Feel free to shoot everything down, laugh or just flat out question it

I like most of it, I only have 2 issues. The first is the death of the Canadian Open, and the second and more pressing issue would be the US Open without a change of venue being an outdoor hard court event a month later than it already is. They already can't make it through the fortnight without a gale or a monsoon, you push that thing back a month, and it'll be even worse. It either needs to move, or it needs to be indoors!

Also, I'm sure the players themselves would take issue with losing their post Wimbledon summer break, not that I care about that personally

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Care to compare? Okay, there you go, here is 2017:

Vienna:
#1 - A Zverev
#2 - Thiem
#3 - PCB
#4 - Anderson
#5 - Querey
#6 - Isner
#7 - Tsonga
#8 - Schwartzman

Basel:
#1 - Federer
#2 - Cilic
#3 - Goffin
#4 - Bautista Agut
#5 - Sock
#6 - Del Potro
#7 - Mannarino
#8 - M Zverev
(Nadal was scheduled to play, too, but didn't, in the end, ie, in VB lingo, that means he chickened out and was afraid of facing Fed on his home turf... )

So, 21 grand slams (should have been 37) and 6 Masters in Basel, and a big fat zero in Vienna. and *Vienna* had the great lineup? Okay, sure...

Oh, and Vienna champion: Pouille (beat Tsonga). Basel champion: Federer (beat Del Potro). Guess which tournament scored more "points" this year as far as the history books go...

I understand Basel means a lot for you. I dont see this in the same way as my vision for tennis goes much further Sacrifices has to be done


I wish tennis could attract other sponsors than European luxury products. Tennis to become more cutting edge. Courts being environmental friendly, tennis to have a vision too, moving along with how the world is moving. More charity. Much more of a fresh outlook. This will be great for the popularity of the sport and become up to date and modern.

 

[Krish872007]

I like most of it, I only have 2 issues. The first is the death of the Canadian Open, and the second and more pressing issue would be the US Open without a change of venue being an outdoor hard court event a month later than it already is. They already can't make it through the fortnight without a gale or a monsoon, you push that thing back a month, and it'll be even worse. It either needs to move, or it needs to be indoors!

Also, I'm sure the players themselves would take issue with losing their post Wimbledon summer break, not that I care about that personally

Yes, you raise a very important point about the weather
Could make the US Open an indoor Slam - the roof over Ashe looks good and they're replicating that for the 2 other big-ish courts. Would be great if they could afford it along with the entertainment and other showmanship they have going on

 

[Zeref]

End season w grass tournaments! Ditch Paris and maybe Basel/Vienna.
Yes India obvious choice for a grass or a grass WTF.
Do you know where in India this could be? Around Bangalore or Dehli?

South America could have more tournaments, but seems like often empty courts not many fans sadly.

Considering it to b a grass tournament played outdoors-
Dehli could b the worst possible choice this time around for WTF. Heavy smog (during evening and late afternoon time ), such proportions of smog that I would not even permit Players to breathe in it.

2nd spot is Chennai , but since it has to be played outdoors , it should also b out of the question.

3rd is Bangalore , a nice dry and slow late monsoon wind flows in Late November around Bangalore area, Temperature should b optimum and Humidity would b also low + South India has more tennis viewers imo.
So Bangalore would b the choice for me.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Considering it to b a grass tournament played outdoors-
Dehli could b the worst possible choice this time around for WTF. Heavy smog (during evening and late afternoon time ), such proportions of smog that I would not even permit Players to breathe in it.

2nd spot is Chennai , but since it has to be played outdoors , it should also b out of the question.

3rd is Bangalore , a nice dry and slow late monsoon wind flows in Late November around Bangalore area, Temperature should b optimum and Humidity would b also low + South India has more tennis viewers imo.
So Bangalore would b the choice for me.

Nice, closer to Goa

 

[Zeref]

Nice, closer to Goa

Major plus+ point

 

[Jackuar]

If Tennis authorities want TO EXPAND THIS SPORT , INDIA should b the destination. I also mentioned in one of my comments few days before, A masters should b held in India and that too grass. People would love it here and connect it to the prestige of Wimbledon, that's how tennis could expand in India.

The grass is difficult to maintain in European countries... And you want one in India of all places!! If you don't know, we have 9/10 months of summer in most places.

 

[Zeref]

We do maintain cricket fields. It surely would b different than Wimbledon grass, Difficulty is not the question , it is only the cost.

The grass is difficult to maintain in European countries... And you want one in India of all places!! If you don't know, we have 9/10 months of summer in most places.

We don't need to maintain it whole year, even Wimbledon authorities boost their preparation after spring. Thing to take a note is, we got 2 whole months of Monsoon before November , so I don't see much problem.

Anyways the place in India I live in. . Got only 4 months of summer. May b my place is better then

 

[Jackuar]

We do maintain cricket fields. It surely would b different than Wimbledon grass, Difficulty is not the question , it is only the cost.



We don't need to maintain it whole year, even Wimbledon authorities boost their preparation after spring. Thing to take a note is, we got 2 whole months of Monsoon before November , so I don't see much problem.

Anyways the place in India I live in. . Got only 4 months of summer. May b my place is better then

Where's that, Darjeeling?

Btw, Darjeeling, yes, would be a great choice with the weather and greenery and sceneries.

OK, let's wake up. Dreams over. It's not gonna happen unless we get a singles GS champion first. And then there's 49 more parameters.

 

[Zeref]

Where's that, Darjeeling?

Btw, Darjeeling, yes, would be a great choice with the weather and greenery and sceneries.

OK, let's wake up. Dreams over. It's not gonna happen unless we get a single GS champion first. And then there's 49 more parameters.

Yeah we need a Slam Champion , Even Switzerland got no Masters

I live in Himanchal btw

 

[Krish872007]

Where's that, Darjeeling?

Btw, Darjeeling, yes, would be a great choice with the weather and greenery and sceneries.

OK, let's wake up. Dreams over. It's not gonna happen unless we get a singles GS champion first. And then there's 49 more parameters.

You guys just need to convince Federer to get Indian citizenship. He's half-way there already seeing as he supported their cricket team in the World Cup against Pakistan a couple of years ago:

 

[spirit95]

Shanghai before AO actually makes a lot of sense. As it is the players have to do a global circumnavigation US to Asia back to Europe. Shanghai is at least in a similar timezone to the AO

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

Here is a possible schedule for alternate 2017.
January 2-8: Dubai/Sydney 500's
January 9-15: Brisbane/Auckland/Delray Beach 250's
January 16-22: Indian Wells Masters
January 23-29: Doha/Tokyo 500's
January 30-February 5: Miami Masters
February 6-12: Abu Dhabi/Memphis/Acapulco 250's
February 13-26: Australian Open
February 27-March 5: Seattle/Kuala Lumpur/San Jose 250's
March 6-12: Chengdu/Shenzen/Los Angeles 250's
March 13-19: Davis Cup 1th Round
March 20-26: Quito/Buenos Aires/Sao Paolo 250's
March 27- April 2: Madrid/Barcelona 500's
April 3-9: Houston/Marrakesh/Budapest/Istanbul 250's
April 10-16: Monte Carlo Masters
April 17-23: Rio/Hamburg 500's
April 24-30: Kitzbuhel/Estoril/Munich/Gstaad 250's
May 1-7: Rome Masters
May 8-14: Geneva/Umag/Bastad/Lyon 250's
May 15-28: French Open
May 29-June 4: Antalya/Newport/Dublin 250's
June 5-11: Davis Cup Quarterfinals
June 12-18: Halle Masters
June 19-25: Stuttgart/Rosmalen 500's
June 26-July 2: Queens Masters
July 3-9: Eastbourne/Birmingham/Dusseldorf 250's
July 10-23: Wimbledon
July 24-July 30: Los Cabos/Winston Salem/Bucharest 250's
July 31-August 6: Washington/Atlanta 500's
August 7-13: Canada Masters
August 14-20: San Francisco/New Jersey/Delaware 250's
August 21-27: Cincinnati Masters
August 28-September 3: Philadelphia/Forest Hills/Indianapolis 250's
September 4-17: US Open
September 18-24: St.Petersburg/Stockholm/Metz 250's
September 25-October 1: Beijing/Rotterdam 500's
October 2-8: Shanghai Masters
October 9-15: Basel/Vienna 500's
October 16-22: Paris Masters
October 23-29: Montepeillier/Sofia/Antwerp
October 30-November 5: Davis Cup Semifinals
November 6-12: Moscow/Zagreb/Johannesburg
November 13-19: Davis Cup Finals
November 20-28: Milan/Valencia/Bangkok
November 29-December 5: World Tour Finals

I made this a while ago and would want to see it implemented.

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

Here is a possible schedule for alternate 2017.
January 2-8: Dubai/Sydney 500's
January 9-15: Brisbane/Auckland/Delray Beach 250's
January 16-22: Indian Wells Masters
January 23-29: Doha/Tokyo 500's
January 30-February 5: Miami Masters
February 6-12: Abu Dhabi/Memphis/Acapulco 250's
February 13-26: Australian Open
February 27-March 5: Seattle/Kuala Lumpur/San Jose 250's
March 6-12: Chengdu/Shenzen/Los Angeles 250's
March 13-19: Davis Cup 1th Round
March 20-26: Quito/Buenos Aires/Sao Paolo 250's
March 27- April 2: Madrid/Barcelona 500's
April 3-9: Houston/Marrakesh/Budapest/Istanbul 250's
April 10-16: Monte Carlo Masters
April 17-23: Rio/Hamburg 500's
April 24-30: Kitzbuhel/Estoril/Munich/Gstaad 250's
May 1-7: Rome Masters
May 8-14: Geneva/Umag/Bastad/Lyon 250's
May 15-28: French Open
May 29-June 4: Antalya/Newport/Dublin 250's
June 5-11: Davis Cup Quarterfinals
June 12-18: Halle Masters
June 19-25: Stuttgart/Rosmalen 500's
June 26-July 2: Queens Masters
July 3-9: Eastbourne/Birmingham/Dusseldorf 250's
July 10-23: Wimbledon
July 24-July 30: Los Cabos/Winston Salem/Bucharest 250's
July 31-August 6: Washington/Atlanta 500's
August 7-13: Canada Masters
August 14-20: San Francisco/New Jersey/Delaware 250's
August 21-27: Cincinnati Masters
August 28-September 3: Philadelphia/Forest Hills/Indianapolis 250's
September 4-17: US Open
September 18-24: St.Petersburg/Stockholm/Metz 250's
September 25-October 1: Beijing/Rotterdam 500's
October 2-8: Shanghai Masters
October 9-15: Basel/Vienna 500's
October 16-22: Paris Masters
October 23-29: Montepeillier/Sofia/Antwerp
October 30-November 5: Davis Cup Semifinals
November 6-12: Moscow/Zagreb/Johannesburg
November 13-19: Davis Cup Finals
November 20-28: Milan/Valencia/Bangkok
November 29-December 5: World Tour Finals

I made this a while ago and would want to see it implemented.

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

Here is a possible schedule for alternate 2017.
January 2-8: Dubai/Sydney 500's
January 9-15: Brisbane/Auckland/Delray Beach 250's
January 16-22: Indian Wells Masters
January 23-29: Doha/Tokyo 500's
January 30-February 5: Miami Masters
February 6-12: Abu Dhabi/Memphis/Acapulco 250's
February 13-26: Australian Open
February 27-March 5: Seattle/Kuala Lumpur/San Jose 250's
March 6-12: Chengdu/Shenzen/Los Angeles 250's
March 13-19: Davis Cup 1th Round
March 20-26: Quito/Buenos Aires/Sao Paolo 250's
March 27- April 2: Madrid/Barcelona 500's
April 3-9: Houston/Marrakesh/Budapest/Istanbul 250's
April 10-16: Monte Carlo Masters
April 17-23: Rio/Hamburg 500's
April 24-30: Kitzbuhel/Estoril/Munich/Gstaad 250's
May 1-7: Rome Masters
May 8-14: Geneva/Umag/Bastad/Lyon 250's
May 15-28: French Open
May 29-June 4: Antalya/Newport/Dublin 250's
June 5-11: Davis Cup Quarterfinals
June 12-18: Halle Masters
June 19-25: Stuttgart/Rosmalen 500's
June 26-July 2: Queens Masters
July 3-9: Eastbourne/Birmingham/Dusseldorf 250's
July 10-23: Wimbledon
July 24-July 30: Los Cabos/Winston Salem/Bucharest 250's
July 31-August 6: Washington/Atlanta 500's
August 7-13: Canada Masters
August 14-20: San Francisco/New Jersey/Delaware 250's
August 21-27: Cincinnati Masters
August 28-September 3: Philadelphia/Forest Hills/Indianapolis 250's
September 4-17: US Open
September 18-24: St.Petersburg/Stockholm/Metz 250's
September 25-October 1: Beijing/Rotterdam 500's
October 2-8: Shanghai Masters
October 9-15: Basel/Vienna 500's
October 16-22: Paris Masters
October 23-29: Montepeillier/Sofia/Antwerp
October 30-November 5: Davis Cup Semifinals
November 6-12: Moscow/Zagreb/Johannesburg
November 13-19: Davis Cup Finals
November 20-28: Milan/Valencia/Bangkok
November 29-December 5: World Tour Finals

I made this a while ago and would want to see it implemented.

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

Here is a possible schedule for alternate 2017.
January 2-8: Dubai/Sydney 500's
January 9-15: Brisbane/Auckland/Delray Beach 250's
January 16-22: Indian Wells Masters
January 23-29: Doha/Tokyo 500's
January 30-February 5: Miami Masters
February 6-12: Abu Dhabi/Memphis/Acapulco 250's
February 13-26: Australian Open
February 27-March 5: Seattle/Kuala Lumpur/San Jose 250's
March 6-12: Chengdu/Shenzen/Los Angeles 250's
March 13-19: Davis Cup 1th Round
March 20-26: Quito/Buenos Aires/Sao Paolo 250's
March 27- April 2: Madrid/Barcelona 500's
April 3-9: Houston/Marrakesh/Budapest/Istanbul 250's
April 10-16: Monte Carlo Masters
April 17-23: Rio/Hamburg 500's
April 24-30: Kitzbuhel/Estoril/Munich/Gstaad 250's
May 1-7: Rome Masters
May 8-14: Geneva/Umag/Bastad/Lyon 250's
May 15-28: French Open
May 29-June 4: Antalya/Newport/Dublin 250's
June 5-11: Davis Cup Quarterfinals
June 12-18: Halle Masters
June 19-25: Stuttgart/Rosmalen 500's
June 26-July 2: Queens Masters
July 3-9: Eastbourne/Birmingham/Dusseldorf 250's
July 10-23: Wimbledon
July 24-July 30: Los Cabos/Winston Salem/Bucharest 250's
July 31-August 6: Washington/Atlanta 500's
August 7-13: Canada Masters
August 14-20: San Francisco/New Jersey/Delaware 250's
August 21-27: Cincinnati Masters
August 28-September 3: Philadelphia/Forest Hills/Indianapolis 250's
September 4-17: US Open
September 18-24: St.Petersburg/Stockholm/Metz 250's
September 25-October 1: Beijing/Rotterdam 500's
October 2-8: Shanghai Masters
October 9-15: Basel/Vienna 500's
October 16-22: Paris Masters
October 23-29: Montepeillier/Sofia/Antwerp
October 30-November 5: Davis Cup Semifinals
November 6-12: Moscow/Zagreb/Johannesburg
November 13-19: Davis Cup Finals
November 20-28: Milan/Valencia/Bangkok
November 29-December 5: World Tour Finals

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

There's been plenty of discussion on these boards over what changes the ATP and ITF could make to the calendar to incorporate a nice mix of events, destinations, playing conditions and the like.

So in keeping with this theme, I thought I'd actually flesh out what my ideal 2018 ATP Tennis Calendar would look like using actual dates:

1st week of year: ATP 250 events (Sydney, Doha, etc.)
8 - 14 January: Shanghai (Masters 1000)
15 - 21 January: Sydney & Doha (ATP 250 or 500)
22 - 28 January: Brisbane Int (Masters 1000)
5 - 18 February: 2018 Australian Open (SLAM)

26 Feb - 04 March: Rotterdam (ATP 500)
5 - 11 March: Rio Open (ATP 500)
12 - 18 March: Dubai (ATP 500)
19 - 25 March: Miami (ATP 500)

End March/Early April - slot for ATP 250s and other fixtures
8 - 15 April: Monte Carlo (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 April: Barcelona (ATP 500)
30 Apr - 6 May: Madrid (Masters 1000)
7 - 13 May: Hamburg (ATP 500)
21 - 27 May: Rome (Masters 1000)
4 - 17 June: 2018 French Open (SLAM)

25 Jun - 1 July: Stuttgart (ATP 250 or 500)
2 - 8 July: Halle (Masters 1000)
16 - 22 July: Queen's Club (Masters 1000)
End July: smaller events like Eastbourne/Newport
30 Jul - 12 August: 2018 Wimbledon (SLAM)

20 - 26 August: Washington DC (ATP 500)
27 Aug - 1 Sept: Cincinnati (Masters 1000)
7 - 16 September: Indian Wells (Masters 1000)
Mid-Sept - small gap for other small fixtures
24 Sep - 7 Oct: 2018 US Open (SLAM)

15 - 21 October: Tokyo (ATP 500)
22 - 28 October: Beijing (ATP 500)
29 Oct - 4 Nov: Vienna (ATP 500)
5 - 11 November: Basel (ATP 500)
18 - 25 November: World Tour Finals (WTF 1500)

Colour code:
Blue - denotes outdoor hard court tournaments
Pink - denote indoor hard court or carpet tournaments
Green - denotes grass court tournaments
Red - denotes clay court tournaments

Thoughts? What would you say if the ATP actually decided to go with a format like this for next season?
Feel free to shoot everything down, laugh or just flat out question it

This is very well done.

 

[TheAverageFedererFan]

Sorry about the triple post. My computer isn't very well today.

 

[jaggy]

Cincy will be successful no matter when it is played.