[digital_roby]

It is revealed in Shanghai that the ATP is planning to start new Masters Series event in Asia. Shanghai is among the most competitive bids. Mark Miles says that the ATP will not add new events but move one to Asia. Rome or Hamburg will possibly make way in the near future due to economic reasons. Masters Cup Shanghai has already been considered a perfect event. There are great chances that Shanghai will appear on the Super 9 list in the years to come, according to the interview in the media center at Masters Cup.

 

[Layla]

Wait, are you saying they will steal a claycourt Masters event in Europe and replace it with a hardcourt one in Asia? If that's true, I'd be furious. :fiery: Why not replace one of the North American ones on hard courts? There are too many of them as it is.

 

[King Aaron]

I don't really care which ones will be replaced but a Masters Series event in Asia is great!

 

[digital_roby]

[No message]

 

[digital_roby]

They have said. We know that the "folding stuff" is the key thing in it. If the European events can find real good sponsors to back them up, there won't be any problem. As you can notice, both Mercedez-Benz and Heineken are keen on the Chinese market, especially Shanghai. JPMorgan as well. All have very good relations with the ATP. And it is reasonable because there is no Masters events in such a big Asia. It is interesting you used "steal", but Madrid has stolen one, hasn't it? Looks like the U.S. events have strong economic background. I don't know. But one thing can be sure is this will not be settled recently, but it will soon, before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The venue for this year's Masters Cup is temporary. It is an expo enter actually. So Shanghai doesn't have Masters-fit site yet. But believe the Shanghai speed. They will build one if they want.

 

[Layla]

When I said steal I was referring to clay court Masters. They are in minority as it is. Madrid replaced Stuttgard didn't it? That's still in Europe.

I have nothing against a Masters in Asia. I think it's a great idea. I just think it would be a disgrace and completely unfair if there were even less Masters on clay. There's already an overwhelming bias towards hard courts.

 

[lin]

great idea to put a Masters in Asia

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I'm with Layla.

Put a masters series in Asia for sure, there is a great number of fans there, as clearly demonstrated by the attendance of the events that they do have.

But don't take out one of the clay ones.

There are enough players who pad their rankings with hard court points and suck on clay as it is.

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

It's more likely to be Hamburg that goes rather than Rome.

Italian Open is one of the most prestegious/histroic titles there is to be won.

Indian Wells and Miami won't be scrapped. I don't see Toronto or Cinci going either.

When is the Shanghai Masters gonna be played ???

Indoors before Roland Garros????

 

[digital_roby]

Masters Series Shanghai will possibly stage before 2008 Olympics but probably not within, say, 2 years. Who knows!

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

If they took away Masters Series Canada I would scream :fiery:

We attend that tournament very well god damnit.

If anyone was to lose a tournament it should be the USA.

 

[digital_roby]

Agree! Houston will hold Masters Cup for the next two years. WHY??? How did they qualify?

 

[TennisHack]

I'd be FURIOUS if they replace a clay Masters. There are 4 TMSes played in North America, three of them in the US. We have too many as it is!

But if they keep the calendar the same, that will be interesting--will it be indoor clay? Because it's right in the middle of the clay court season.

Damn hard courts :fiery:

 

[Billabong]

yah.. meybe they should take Cincinnati, no? Indian Wells is really interesting(in the desert of California, first masters series of the year) and Miami is a classic one.. plus, both of them are in 2 weeks.. Toronto/Montreal is the only ATP tournament in Canada, so I think it would be a VERY bad idea to replace it.. but Cincinnati, is there something THAT special in it? I also think it would be a bad idea to replace the clay masters!! I adore them!!

 

[Nimi]

Replace Cincinnati with an Asian grass court TMS

 

[Mr. Man]

yea! next year Houston is gonna be holding the Masters Cup! I cant wait! I know im going!

 

[Layla]

I was thinking Cincinatti too. In my eyes it's the most expendable. But there is a huge problem. Who would fly halfway across the world just before the US Open in the middle of the US hardcourt season. And it's even worse with the other option, if Hamburg was to go. Can you imagine interrupting the European clay court season just before RG to go to Shanghai? It makes absolutely no sense, and I doubt many players would want to do that. The only reasonable option is to have it after all the slams. The players have it tough already, let's not make their lives even more difficult.

 

[Billabong]

good point Layla, I hadn't thought about it..

 

[Dissident]

They could hold the other TMS untill late in the season?
Like pushing it to be next to the last two?

Still, taking one of the clay ones is a crime.
Replace Hamburg for Brazil if theres no sponsors.

 

[Nimi]

Well what about a TMS in South America?