Should the ATP put Indian Wells on par with the slams?

[Nadal_2008]

Indian Wells is already of the most attended tournaments on tour with just over 370,000 people a year, and with the $70 million expansion plans they have a five-year goal to increase attendance to 500,000, which would make it the third-most-attended tennis event in the world, surpassing the French Open and Wimbledon.

The prize money is great, all the big players always play this event, it has a big draw and lasts nearly 2 weeks, and it’s in a great location in the calendar (starts 5 weeks after Australia, and finishes 10 weeks before the French). With an owner like Larry Ellison, Indian Wells is sure to keep on growing in future years.

Obviously the ITF & the Grand Slam Committee will never allow it to be known as a Grand Slam®, but should the ATP put the event on par with the majors by giving it the same ranking points as the slams?

 

[heninfan99]

It certainly feels like at 5th slam with all the top players always participating. It has it's own excitement and has had fantastic doubles play the last few years. But it should be it's own thing and a 1,000 points is a lot. Same as Monte Carlo which is another event I really enjoy.

 

[Goosehead]

'''''''''''''''''''No.

 

[RAFA2005RG]

Indian Wells is already of the most attended tournaments on tour with just over 370,000 people a year, and with the $70 million expansion plans they have a five-year goal to increase attendance to 500,000, which would make it the third-most-attended tennis event in the world, surpassing the French Open and Wimbledon.

The prize money is great, all the big players always play this event, it has a big draw and lasts nearly 2 weeks, and it’s in a great location in the calendar (starts 5 weeks after Australia, and finishes 10 weeks before the French). With an owner like Larry Ellison, Indian Wells is sure to keep on growing in future years.

Obviously the ITF & the Grand Slam Committee will never allow it to be known as a Grand Slam®, but should the ATP put the event on par with the majors by giving it the same ranking points as the slams?

I think its more likely that the tour will lose a hardcourt slam than gain a hardcourt slam. We could get a 2nd clay slam, in South America.

 

[mariecon]

It certainly feels like at 5th slam with all the top players always participating. It has it's own excitement and has had fantastic doubles play the last few years. But it should be it's own thing and a 1,000 points is a lot. Same as Monte Carlo which is another event I really enjoy.

All the top players are supposed to play the Masters. That's why they're mandatory.

And no, it shouldn't be a 5th slam. Four is enough. You can't go changing things now. There have been 4 slams since the Open era started and it should stay that way.

Otherwise the GOAT debate would be really confusing. :lol::shock:

 

[Cup8489]

I think its more likely that the tour will lose a hardcourt slam than gain a hardcourt slam. We could get a 2nd clay slam, in South America.

That will never happen. It's far more likely to retain or gain a 3rd hc slam than a second clay slam.

 

[Wilander Fan]

I think there would be alot of temptation to skip AO if there were 4 slams in the west. I dont think they should have 5 slams but if they did they should schedule it close to the AO somewhere in Asia and make it an indoor slam.

 

[tacou]

All the top players are supposed to play the Masters. That's why they're mandatory.

And no, it shouldn't be a 5th slam. Four is enough. You can't go changing things now. There have been 4 slams since the Open era started and it should stay that way.

Otherwise the GOAT debate would be really confusing. :lol::shock:

Tell that to Paris, Shanghai, Monte Carlo, Cinci etc. Americans often skip the clay masters regardless of consequence, and Nadal was ready to skip IW and Miami if it suited him.

The Open Era is not even 50 years old. If IW became a slam next year it would be regarded along with the other slams in 15 years or so..though 2 slams in one country is a bit odd

 

[tacou]

I think its more likely that the tour will lose a hardcourt slam than gain a hardcourt slam. We could get a 2nd clay slam, in South America.

What is your reasoning? You think USO, the "biggest" stage in tennis, is going to get demoted? Or AO, whose reputation and grounds have improved tenfold in recent years?

Nah. They are both safe. And where would a clay slam go? The clay season is already long and filled with masters and 500 events.

 

[TennisYonex]

All the top players are supposed to play the Masters. That's why they're mandatory.

And no, it shouldn't be a 5th slam. Four is enough. You can't go changing things now. There have been 4 slams since the Open era started and it should stay that way.

Mandatory? Where did u get that idea.

Just because it's 4 slams now, doesn't mean it should stay that way.

If there was a candidate to be a fifth slam it'd be Indian Wells. High turnout, easy access to players,
perfect weather for tennis, increased prize money. I don't see too many tournaments offering that much.

Of course in reality this is very unlikely to happen ...

 

[Doubles]

If they made a fifth slam, it should be on Grass, as that' already an underrepresented surface.

 

[TennisYonex]

If they made a fifth slam, it should be on Grass, as that' already an underrepresented surface.

It's underrepresented because Grass courts are only common in Britain and nowhere else in the world.....

 

[Doubles]

It's underrepresented because Grass courts are only common in Britain and nowhere else in the world.....

...except the USA, and Germany. Why should we have 50 clay court tournaments a year and only 5 or 6 grass court tournies? Clay court tennis is boring. Would it really kill the ITF to add a few more grass court tournaments?

 

[sureshs]

No.

I am in IW now, and the place is nothing compared to the cities where the Slams are held. Great place, but does not have the big-time vibe. And the average age of the denizens is around 80.

 

[RodSmooth]

I don't See why not made IW and Miami 1500's

They seem bigger than the rest of the masters

 

[jaggy]

I would love to see a grass court season culminating in Wimbledon at say the end of July but the all england blazers would never go for it. 6-8 weeks practice on it would be much better for all concerned.

And Cincy is more prestigious than Indian Wells and basically everywhere really.

 

[RodSmooth]

I would love to see a grass court season culminating in Wimbledon at say the end of July but the all england blazers would never go for it. 6-8 weeks practice on it would be much better for all concerned.

And Cincy is more prestigious than Indian Wells and basically everywhere really.

I agree a legit grass court season would be cool.

1 500

1 masters (optional)


Rest 250's

I feel that's one of the only things that is missing from the season

 

[TennisYonex]

...except the USA, and Germany. Why should we have 50 clay court tournaments a year and only 5 or 6 grass court tournies? Clay court tennis is boring. Would it really kill the ITF to add a few more grass court tournaments?

I agree with you, I would much prefer grass over clay and wish there were more grass tournaments.

But you're joking if u think grass courts are common in the USA.

 

[Sander001]

Definitely not. Player's careers are already shortened due to the long year and they should be cutting down tournaments and their mandatories, not increasing them. 2 weeks for a non slam seems like the ideal cull.

 

[spinovic]

I don't mind the idea of IW being a 5th slam...I'm just curious if the scheduling of the event(s) would be adjusted.

 

[norbac]

It's fine as it is. Really good tournament to visit. One of my favorites out of the ones I've been to, along with Cincinnati.

 

[pvaudio]

I get the feeling a lot of people haven't been to Indian Wells if they think it's prime for a new slam. Indian Wells is Indian Wells, and that's about it. There is no air of greatness in the surrounding area like there is in Melbourne, Paris, "London" and NY. It may be the most watched and most accessible, but it still feels like a large tennis tournament instead of a GS.

 

[Doubles]

I agree with you, I would much prefer grass over clay and wish there were more grass tournaments.

But you're joking if u think grass courts are common in the USA.

I was talking about pro tournaments. Newport, and Halle are both grass court tournaments outside of England. I wasn't trying to say that they're common, so much as I was saying they do happen outside of the UK.

 

[NLBwell]

Key Biscayne - Miami was pretty much the 5th slam at one time. It was probably bigger than the AO. If there were to be one (which there doesn't need to be) that should be it.
Major city - closest thing to a Latin American slam - great history - etc.

The scheduling somewhat dilutes the importance of IW and Miami, as it does with Cincinnati and the Canadian.

 

[bluetrain4]

Why does every big, prestigious, highly-attended tournament have to be a Slam? Let's just enjoy IW for what it is. If it's set itself apart from a lot of the other non-Slams, fine.

 

[OrangePower]

I don't See why not made IW and Miami 1500's

They seem bigger than the rest of the masters

Agree. Maybe not 1,500 but 1,250, but they should be more than other Masters since there is one more round involved, so harder to get deep in the tournament.

 

[iradical18]

It's an intriguing idea. I do like the suggestion of another slam in South America though, I also think the USO or the AUSO need to go to grass.

 

[Paul Murphy]

We keep seeing posts about creating a fifth major - there are four - end of story.
What makes them special is that there are only four of them.
To win one is the greatest thing one can do in tennis in terms of a single event.

 

[RAFA2005RG]

Indian Wells will never shake the tag of "the racist event" after Serena and Venus Williams have skipped it for the last 12 years. Plus it lacks the prestige of the Olympics (which has a 5 set final) and even the World Tour Finals (even though that event is known for players being injured at that time of the year, and for Davy winning it despite being an awful slam player, its still clearly bigger than IW).

 

[tennisbuck]

I think it would be cool to put it on its own level at like 1250 or something. Even though thats not much different it would make it a little bigger deal and add to its special feel

 

[tennisbuck]

However if they were to implement a higher points level i think making a best of five final would be necessary

 

[Relinquis]

IW does not deserve to be a slam.

• Is in USA (there is one there already in NYC)
• Less energy than NYC
• Crowd is less good looking than NYC, below even than Wimbledon crowd.
• It's hardcourt. We already have two hardcourt slams.

I think what they're doing with IW is good. the expansion, more money and such. This will pressure the other masters 1000 to raise their level as well as the slams to raise their levels. This is good and commendable.

I have an issue with having 32 seeds with byes. This is too many. Needs to be reduced so they dont' get all of these free points and unfair advanage as it is clear, from this year's IW, that their levels are not that much higher than the lower ranked guys with a lot of seeds being taken out in the first round they play.

16 seeds max. Not even sure they should recieve byes at all, imo. also, Would love to see all Masters 1000 have 5 set final matches. For men and women.

 

[Bartelby]

Slams are the historical product of national associations which are now under the ITF umbrella.

There can be no slams created by the ATP, and the Masters series are their attempt at a slam-like series.

The ATP does seem happy with the 1000 event series, but they are free to invent two week slam-like events.

 

[BlueB]

IW a slam? No... I like it, but no.
However Shanghai, watch and see! Give it about 10 years or so...

 

[tennisbuck]

IW does not deserve to be a slam.

• Is in USA (there is one there already in NYC)
• Less energy than NYC
• Crowd is less good looking than NYC, below even than Wimbledon crowd.
• It's hardcourt. We already have two hardcourt slams.

I think what they're doing with IW is good. the expansion, more money and such. This will pressure the other masters 1000 to raise their level as well as the slams to raise their levels. This is good and commendable.

I have an issue with having 32 seeds with byes. This is too many. Needs to be reduced so they dont' get all of these free points and unfair advanage as it is clear, from this year's IW, that their levels are not that much higher than the lower ranked guys with a lot of seeds being taken out in the first round they play.

16 seeds max. Not even sure they should recieve byes at all, imo. also, Would love to see all Masters 1000 have 5 set final matches. For men and women.

I agree with pretty much everything you said but does it really matter how good looking the crowd is?

 

[RAFA2005RG]

Well, it ain't going to happen IW enthusiasts, not in a hundred years. Waste of a thread. Might as well rename the thread "Will the United States of America ever be renamed 'the United States of Oprah'"?

 

[NLBwell]

Well, it ain't going to happen IW enthusiasts, not in a hundred years. Waste of a thread. Might as well rename the thread "Will the United States of America ever be renamed 'the United States of Oprah'"?

I thought it already was. You mean I've been taken in by another internet rumor?

 

[bluetrain4]

Key Biscayne - Miami was pretty much the 5th slam at one time. It was probably bigger than the AO. If there were to be one (which there doesn't need to be) that should be it.
Major city - closest thing to a Latin American slam - great history - etc.

The scheduling somewhat dilutes the importance of IW and Miami, as it does with Cincinnati and the Canadian.

Yeah, I remember when Miami was "The Lipton Championships" in the late 80s, early 1990s. The "modern" AO was in its relative infancy at Melbourne Park, and not only was Miami a big tournament with a 128 draw (with some byes??) but the men played best-of-5 for a stretch of years. And, the later rounds were always on network television and it recieved a lot of attention. So some people really floated the "fifth Slam" idea, though I still generally think people used the designation "fifth Slam" to compliment the tournament for being big and important and something different, not because they actually thought it was going to be a fifth slam.