What are the most prestigious master events ???

[dgold44]

Of course I am biased being an American.

I would have to think Cinncy is in the top ranks because the event is utterly superb and right before US open.

Also think Indian Wells is a great event. I have heard the Miami masters is not as good.

I am guessing Rome and Monte Carlo would be the top clay ones.

The lesser ones must be the ones after the US open that nobody really pays much attention too.

 

[dgold44]

I have been to Cinny and Indian Wells a few times. My take on the two is this. Cinncy is more meaningful as its a final tune up for the US open. The tourney grounds at Cinncy are much nicer too than Indian wells. They had better places to eat and seemed far more lively. However, Indian Wells and surrounding community is far nicer than Mason/Cinncy.
I believe Cinncy places very fast as Indian Wells plays very slow.

 

[Elektra]

As far as the history is concerned it would be Cincy, Rome and Monte Carlo as the more historic and prestigious events.

Just because they are historic does not make them more popular, in reality the more important Masters events in today's tennis are usually,

Indian Wells
Miami Open
Cincy
Rome
Monte Carlo

 

[dgold44]

Good list eletrak. I heard that Miami does not have great facilities and they are trying to upgrade everything. Not sure if I heard right.
I would say the less important ones are: Paris, Being, Spain, Rogers and few others.
They really should have a master event on just Grass courts.

 

[dgold44]

Cincy is just an odd spot for a major tennis match. Must people in Cinncy have probably never heard of the event or even care.
Why did you put Miami over Cincy through ???

 

[Elektra]

Good list eletrak. I heard that Miami does not have great facilities and they are trying to upgrade everything. Not sure if I heard right.
I would say the less important ones are: Paris, Being, Spain, Rogers and few others.
They really should have a master event on just Grass courts.

I did hear that, it took them that long to upgrade, I guess cause the players voted Indian Wells as their favorite tournament which is why they decided to upgrade.

Indian Wells has the best facilities out of all the Masters tournament, players have said that they feel happiest at Indian Wells.

 

[Elektra]

Cincy is just an odd spot for a major tennis match. Must people in Cinncy have probably never heard of the event or even care.
Why did you put Miami over Cincy through ???

Cincy is in between mid west and northeast part of the country which is good pathways between the states in that region. It is also quiet area, low crime, family friendly an ideal place to host a major tennis tournament. The facilities from what I heard are five star for a 1000 Masters tournament.

 

[dgold44]

I have been to Cinny a few times and yes the facilities are superb!!!! The crowds are lively and great. The surrounding area around the grounds is superb too.
Indian wells had less food items and the crowds were mostly dead quiet and older folks.
IW has some intense dry heat while Cinncy has horrible humidity. Personally, I enjoyed Cinncy much more than IW. IW is a very wealthy area with most people being older, retired and wealthy seniors. Cincy is very blue collar fan base.

 

[NatF]

Miami, Indian Wells and Rome are the biggest by some distance IMO. The first two have larger draws and Miami was even considered the 5th slam for a time. Rome was also considered a huge tournament in the 70's to 80's and is the second biggest clay even by a long way. Indian Wells has had tons of money splashed at it and it's prestige is high now as well.

All other masters fall in behind those 3.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Miami, Indian Wells and Rome are the biggest by some distance IMO. The first two have larger draws and Miami was even considered the 5th slam for a time. Rome was also considered a huge tournament in the 70's to 80's and is the second biggest clay even by a long way. Indian Wells has had tons of money splashed at it and it's prestige is high now as well.

All other masters fall in behind those 3.

Indeed as far as i can recall Key Biscane was played in a 2 weeks period back then.
I know Shanghai is not prestigious but this is one of my favourite, it plays fast too.
I don't like Paris, and Madrid not much either.

 

[dgold44]

Tipsa, would you say Monte Carlo is mostly big only in history and name than anything else.

Do you place Cincy at number 4.

 

[NatF]

Indeed as far as i can recall Key Biscane was played in a 2 weeks period back then.
I know Shanghai is not prestigious but this is one of my favourite, it plays fast too.
I don't like Paris, and Madrid not much either.

Paris and Madrid are clearly the worst.

Shanghai is the players favorite I believe? But I feel it lacks history. I don't find either of pre USO masters that special personally - I like Monte Carlo but mostly for the setting, the non mandatory stipulation downgrades it a little bit in my eyes as a top masters.

I don't think the top 3 can be in any doubt - nor the bottom 2. Everything else just forms in the middle.

 

[dgold44]

Rome the city is really in terrible shape. The city is financially not doing well and cannot even afford to fix many things up of both historical sites and just everyday stuff. Rome is in bad shape economically.

 

[dgold44]

Looks like we agree on Indian Wells and Miami as the 2 best.
But Cinncy or Rome for 3rd I am not sure.

 

[NatF]

Why would Cincy be considered the 3rd? Rome was once considered one of the biggest events in tennis - I've never heard of Cincy being considered in this way.

 

[dgold44]

Then put Cincy at 4 ????

So Indian Wellls, Miami, Rome, Cincy.

I place IW higher than Miami because it has far better facilities. This is way Fed has skipped it over IW a few times

 

[NatF]

Then put Cincy at 4 ????

So Indian Wellls, Miami, Rome, Cincy.

I place IW higher than Miami because it has far better facilities. This is way Fed has skipped it over IW a few times

That's fair enough. Although I'm not sure why Cincy ranks above Canada? Is it traditionally more prestigious?

 

[TheSopranos]

Probably IW and Rome.

 

[Elektra]

That's fair enough. Although I'm not sure why Cincy ranks above Canada? Is it traditionally more prestigious?

Yeah typically but Rogers Cup is an exciting tournament, I would place it above Rome as far as popularity is concerned.

 

[Elektra]

Rome the city is really in terrible shape. The city is financially not doing well and cannot even afford to fix many things up of both historical sites and just everyday stuff. Rome is in bad shape economically.

True, players complained about pot holes on the courts this year. Very Dangerous! Roland Garros has been criticized for having bad facilities, everything is cramped, food service is slow and no lights.

 

[Inanimate_object]

I don't understand how Cincinnati is even in the conversation. To me it's a three-way race between Rome, Monte Carlo and Miami.

 

[Elektra]

I have been to Cinny a few times and yes the facilities are superb!!!! The crowds are lively and great. The surrounding area around the grounds is superb too.
Indian wells had less food items and the crowds were mostly dead quiet and older folks.
IW has some intense dry heat while Cinncy has horrible humidity. Personally, I enjoyed Cinncy much more than IW. IW is a very wealthy area with most people being older, retired and wealthy seniors. Cincy is very blue collar fan base.

Indian Wells is mainly a retirement/resort community but it attracts millionaires and people from the Silicon Valley to that tournament.

 

[NatF]

I don't understand how Cincinnati is even in the conversation. To me it's a three-way race between Rome, Monte Carlo and Miami.

How can Monte Carlo be considered when it's not even the most prestigious clay masters - that would be Rome.

Becoming non mandatory hurts it. The venue is best by far though!

 

[Elektra]

I don't understand how Cincinnati is even in the conversation. To me it's a three-way race between Rome, Monte Carlo and Miami.

I would not put Monte Carlo in there, because the women don't play in that tournament. More popular tournaments have both ATP/WTA players in the same event. As far as clay court tournaments are concerned Rome is more popular and important then Monte Carlo.

 

[Inanimate_object]

How can Monte Carlo be considered when it's not even the most prestigious clay masters - that would be Rome.

Becoming non mandatory hurts it. The venue is best by far though!

Well I don't see the point in further segmenting Masters tournaments into best hard-court masters tournament, best clay masters tournament, best mandatory masters tournament...
Monte Carlo and Rome still retain a sense of prestige that sets them above other tournaments that celebrate athleticism and excitement. Rome and Monte Carlo (and Miami ten years ago) still felt like they were more than simple tennis tournaments - closer to the feeling I got when watching the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open than to Shanghai and Cincinnati.

 

[Steve0904]

Rome and IW in no particular order. I'd probably put IW first at this point but it's debatable.

Miami was the most prestigious at one time, but that's not even close to the case anymore. And MC was (still is?) non mandatory for many years. I love the event in MC, but it's not the most prestigious masters. Interestingly, I believe the Canada masters is the oldest tournament after Wimbledon, but I don't think it's the most prestigious.

 

[NatF]

Well I don't see the point in further segmenting Masters tournaments into best hard-court masters tournament, best clay masters tournament, best mandatory masters tournament...
Monte Carlo and Rome still retain a sense of prestige that sets them above other tournaments that celebrate athleticism and excitement. Rome and Monte Carlo (and Miami ten years ago) still felt like they were more than simple tennis tournaments - closer to the feeling I got when watching the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open than to Shanghai and Cincinnati.

I'm not segmenting it, my point was that the thread is asking for the most prestigious masters and Rome is quite clearly a head of Monte Carlo historically.

 

[bluetrain4]

Miami, Indian Wells and Rome are the biggest by some distance IMO. The first two have larger draws and Miami was even considered the 5th slam for a time. Rome was also considered a huge tournament in the 70's to 80's and is the second biggest clay even by a long way. Indian Wells has had tons of money splashed at it and it's prestige is high now as well.

All other masters fall in behind those 3.

But, are we analyzing "biggest" or "most prestigious"?

 

[Gazelle]

Paris and Miami are the worst. They are hardcourts only in name, and are not even worth being called a clay court.

Cincy and Shanghai are best.

 

[Inanimate_object]

I'm not segmenting it, my point was that the thread is asking for the most prestigious masters and Rome is quite clearly a head of Monte Carlo historically.

You asked why Monte Carlo could be considered the most prestigious masters when it's not the most prestigious clay masters. Clearly I don't see any point in making arbitrary rules that to that effect, nor do I agree that Rome is leagues ahead of Monte Carlo.

 

[NatF]

You asked why Monte Carlo could be considered the most prestigious masters when it's not the most prestigious clay masters. Clearly I don't see any point in making arbitrary rules that to that effect, nor do I agree that Rome is leagues ahead of Monte Carlo.

The logic is quite clear though isn't it? Rome is the most prestigious clay masters - that's pretty much a fact of tennis history. That means Monte Carlo must be lower in the overall the masters pecking order. The fact they're both clay isn't arbitrary it just makes it easier to compare them, Miami versus Monte Carlo is more murky. Rome is the second biggest clay event and has been for many decades. Therefore it is more prestigious than Monte Carlo.

It doesn't have to be leagues but the difference is clear.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Paris and Miami are the worst. They are hardcourts only in name, and are not even worth being called a clay court.

Cincy and Shanghai are best.

The question was what are the most prestigious, not necessarily the best.

 

[Inanimate_object]

The logic is quite clear though isn't it? Rome is the most prestigious clay masters - that's pretty much a fact of tennis history. That means Monte Carlo must be lower in the overall the masters pecking order. The fact they're both clay isn't arbitrary it just makes it easier to compare them, Miami versus Monte Carlo is more murky. Rome is the second biggest clay event and has been for many decades. Therefore it is more prestigious than Monte Carlo.

It doesn't have to be leagues but the difference is clear.

I'm saying I think there are certainly arguments to put Monte Carlo on equal footing with Rome, and even surpass it. I'm not viewing tournaments like a college admission where you dock points for qualities that are mostly arbitrary and don't affect how one views the tournament. I'm not sure how being non-mandatory has anything to do with prestige. That so many top players continue to play Monte Carlo despite the lack of tour obligations should speak to the perception it has on tour. Whereas I'm sure that dropping the required-play for tournaments such as Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, Bercy and maybe even one of IW and Miami would see several top seeds immediately drop off. Those tournaments are obligations - Monte Carlo is not.

 

[Gazelle]

The question was what are the most prestigious, not necessarily the best.

As masters don't really hold prestige, compared to slams, except in this little bubble called talk tennis, prestigious = best.

 

[NatF]

I'm saying I think there are certainly arguments to put Monte Carlo on equal footing with Rome, and even surpass it. I'm not viewing tournaments like a college admission where you dock points for qualities that are mostly arbitrary and don't affect how one views the tournament. I'm not sure how being non-mandatory has anything to do with prestige. That so many top players continue to play Monte Carlo despite the lack of tour obligations should speak to the perception it has on tour. Whereas I'm sure that dropping the required-play for tournaments such as Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai, Bercy and maybe even one of IW and Miami would see several top seeds immediately drop off. Those tournaments are obligations - Monte Carlo is not.

That's fair enough. Why would you consider Monte Carlo equal or even greater than Rome?

 

[BHud]

Not sure why Miami takes such a trashing...the facilities are decent (and are being updated) and the setting is really nice (Key Biscayne/South Beach). I've always had a great time down there. I go to Cincy every year and until the recent upgrades, I wouldn't say it was nicer than Miami...and the location certainly isn't anything to write home about (unless you like the rollercoasters at Kings Island).

 

[Djokovic2011]

As masters don't really hold prestige, compared to slams, except in this little bubble called talk tennis, prestigious = best.

Well you obviously think that Masters are prestigious to a certain extent or you wouldn't have entered this thread in the first place.

 

[Gazelle]

Well you obviously think that Masters are prestigious to a certain extent or you wouldn't have entered this thread in the first place.

Your flawed logic at work again. Guess I'm not allowed to enter any thread about Djokovic or the illustrous Tier 1 tournaments.

 

[Flatballs]

Lol, I really cant believe people are putting s*** holes like Indian Wells and Cincinnati ahead of the likes of Monte Carlo and Rome. Obviously passport-less Americans.

 

[KG1965]

2015
1) Indian Wells
2) Miami
3) Canada
4) Cincy
5) Montecarlo
6) Rome


History
1) Rome
2) Canada
3) Miami (Key Biscayne)
4) Indian Wells (Palm Springs-La Quinta)
5) Montecarlo
6) Cincy

... Shangai, Paris, Madrid are Master500 (!!!)


Indian Wells & Miami are almost major.
Cincy & Canada are in preparation of US Open.

 

[tennisaddict]

Just Rome.

Others are all fillers for the calendar between the majors.

 

[ibbi]

Well, I guess that depends on how you determine prestige. Rogers Cup is the oldest, though until the 1970s really its list of winners was hardly a whose who of tennis greatness. Cincy, Rome, and Monte Carlo all date way, way back as well, though Monte Carlo isn't even a mandatory tournament anymore, which kind of counts against it. Indian Wells doles out the most prize money, and also has the biggest main arena (I think among all the Masters and Slams, only Ashe is bigger than it), In terms of their history, and the list of names that have won it... I'd probably go with Cincinnati or Rome.

 

[KG1965]

The 6 Masters 1000 are close to the majors .
Indian Wells 2015 is very close to Melbourne in 2015 .

Paris , Shanghai and Madrid are a joke .

 

[Inanimate_object]

That's fair enough. Why would you consider Monte Carlo equal or even greater than Rome?

It's all fairly subjective but as of four to five years ago, I would say Rome is fading a bit. Not nearly as drastically as Miami did, but it's noticeable to me - and I have very fond memories of Rome. Perhaps it's the tournament's proximity to the French Open, but more and more I feel like the tournament has been increasingly marketed as a warm-up event and less like a great event in and of itself. Monte Carlo on the other hand feels utterly unique and distinct from the rest of the tour. A tournament in a picturesque location that feels altogether separate from professional tennis. No one is required to come but the best in the world still do, to play in front Monaco Royalty in a very modest sized venue. It's distinction as being a non-mandatory 1000-points tournament makes it even more of a standout compared to the rest of the Masters. If I had to pick 1 masters tournament to attend, 10 years ago I would have said Miami or Rome, 5 years ago definitely Rome. Now? Probably Monte Carlo.

 

[Elektra]

Paris and Miami are the worst. They are hardcourts only in name, and are not even worth being called a clay court.

Cincy and Shanghai are best.

I am sorry to say it, but do people pay attention to the Asian swing

Lol, I really cant believe people are putting s*** holes like Indian Wells and Cincinnati ahead of the likes of Monte Carlo and Rome. Obviously passport-less Americans.

Rome is messed up economically and there have been no upgrades to make the tournament more exciting and there is sill gender disparity in the prize money between ATP/WTA in that tournament. Indian Wells and Cincy have upgraded their facilities, to attract more tennis fans which results in great turnouts and prize money.

 

[Gazelle]

I am sorry to say it, but do people pay attention to the Asian swing

Yes, Asians do! The country of the Shanghai Masters on its own harbours 1/3 of world population. We in western countries think too much the world revolves around our little countries with tiny populations.

 

[Gazelle]

Not sure why Miami takes such a trashing...the facilities are decent (and are being updated) and the setting is really nice (Key Biscayne/South Beach).

People have become blind after watching the court colour for too long.

 

[Jeps]

Indian Wells were concidered the fifth slam, so i'll go with that one!

 

[Elektra]

People have become blind after watching the court colour for too long.

I thought that was the blue courts from Madrid

 

[Gazelle]

I thought that was the blue courts from Madrid

No those were beautiful, onfortunately the hate burned strong in Djokovic and Nadal. #slowerapushers