Upcoming US Open tournaments might have a permanent Monday finish – Tennis News
US Open finals have been regularly postponed for the past four year due to rain and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the officials to stick to schedule and for players who are stuck with the schedule of day to day matches
without any break. US Open might be the first Grand Slam tournament in the history of tennis to have a regular Monday finish.
Jim Curley, the tournament director, have been reported to have said that officials are planning a meeting that will raise the proposal of placing a gap between men’s semi-final and final. No other tournament conducts these two
matches on consecutive days other then US Open.
Their is dilemma that needs to be sorted as one proposal proposes the shift of men’s final from Sunday to Monday and women’s final from Saturday to Sunday. This would give both players one day rest between their semi-final and
final but would add another day to the tournaments total length and would make it a 15 day tournament.
Another proposal states that men’s semifinal to be shifted one day before to Friday and keeping the grand finale on Sunday as it’s a weekend and more people are expected to make it to the arena to witness tournament’s finale.
Roger Federer, five time US Open title holder, also showed his despair on the schedule and stated that its time now that tournament officials talk about this scheule and alter it for players good. He showed his delight on this
advancement and said “I am pleased that the USTA is listening to the players, and I am very encouraged with these developments.”
The tournament director, Jim Curley, said “It’s fair to say that this type of change would have a negative financial impact on the USTA, and that’s another reason why we’re being very thoughtful in this process. We’re talking about
millions of dollars”. These financial loses can have a long term negative impact on the facilities provided by the tournament and should be kept in mind while making this strategic decision.
Their is another problem in shifting the matches as the essence of “Super Saturday” would be lost because three mega matches, women’s final and men’s semi-finals, are played on that day and if it is to be shifted that they would
have to loose that tag of “ Super Saturday”. Other Grand Slam tournaments hold semi-finals of women and men on Thrusday and Friday respectively.
The final date for the decision is not been issued and Curley stated that they will not rush through in making any chances to the tournament schedule and if it doesnt happen in 2012, it might happen in 2013 but discussions are
definitely on course.
Tags: