MASON — Tournament director Bruce Flory said events such as the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters would benefit if the ATP were to cut prize money for doubles matches in 2003.

        The governing body of men's tennis is considering the move — which would slash prize money by two-thirds and decrease the doubles field from 32 to 16 teams — because of a proposal sent earlier this year by Tennis Properties Limited, the owner of the nine-event Masters Series.

DOUBLES IN TROUBLE

THE PROBLEMS:     • Doubles specialists     Twenty-three of 64 doubles players this week also played singles, including Lleyton Hewitt, the No. 1-ranked singles player in the world. But the numbers are usually lower, especially at Grand Slam events, where singles players have to win three sets instead of two. These “specialists” don't play singles matches, so they aren't known by the public.     • Doubles promotion     Tournament director Bruce Flory said it's a waste of money to promote doubles teams. Players often change partners because of injuries, or relationships go sour.     THE PLAN     • New doubles entry system allowing singles players to enter doubles tournaments using their singles rankings.     • Match tie-breaking scoring (first team to 10 points wins, replacing third sets)     Between January and May, the ATP said the new scoring system increased the number of doubles matches played on center court by about 18 percent, while the number of doubles semifinals played on center court increased by 50 percent. The ATP report also stated the lack of the third set did not appear to be a factor in determining the winner.     Participation by singles players (33 percent) did not increase.     An idea Flory has heard from other promoters is to start the doubles tournament a day after the singles round of 64. That way, 32 tennis players are in town without a tournament to play — and they could join the doubles competition.

        Such a decision would cut the doubles prize money at the annual tournament here from $500,000 to about $167,000.

        “There's just no way you can justify that kind of money for what it produces,” Flory said.

        The cuts, along with several other new rules, essentially will eliminate mid- to low-ranking doubles players, who oppose any deep cuts.

        Mark Knowles, one of the top doubles players in the world, called the proposal, “extreme and really ludicrous.”

        The issue, however, is nothing new. Proponents of change cite the number of doubles specialists and a lack of doubles teams to promote.

        The ATP and International Tennis Federation, which handles Grand Slam events, experimented this season with some changes meant to spice up the doubles game, including replacing third sets with a tiebreaker — the first team to 10 points wins — in an effort to speed up matches.

        “In my opinion, they have to do something,” said tennis commentator Patrick McEnroe. “I think the tour has let it go on for a little too long.”

        No system exists to trace the influence of doubles matches on ticket sales. But Flory said doubles are not given any credit for ticket sales, and the game has no broadcast rights value.

        “We've never had a person call and ask what doubles players are going to play here,” said Flory, who added that the doubles game always should remain a part of tennis.

        While local promotions pitch singles players Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Pete Sampras, there was no mention of the top-ranked doubles team of Knowles and Daniel Nestor.

        Knowles said with the extreme cuts, even if he continues to win tournaments, it would be hard financially to afford having a coach.

        “Obviously, if they need to make cutbacks, everyone understands,” said Knowles. “But some of the bids have been a bit of a punch in the stomach. It really makes us wonder what their intentions are here.”

        TPL spokesman Jonathan Friend said there is no hidden agenda behind the proposal.

        “We're not trying to get rid of doubles,” Friend said.

        But doubles player Mahesh Bhupathi doesn't see how decreased prize money will solve tennis' problems.

        “It's going to help the promoters save a lot of money,” Bhupathi said. “But I don't think that's what we're looking for in the game of tennis. We're looking for the game to grow.”

        He also said doubles is being blamed for the sport's financial woes, which were highlighted by the 2001 bankruptcy of the tour's sponsor, ISL, a Swiss media and marketing company. Gone is ISL's $1.2 billion guarantee covering prize money.

        David Higdon, vice president of corporate communications for ATP, said the board is considering the distribution of all prize money.

        But Knowles feels like he and his doubles counterparts are being pulled around.

        “They've gotten all they wanted,” Knowles said. “We've given them pretty much everything but our lives.

        “We pay the same dues that singles players pay. I think we should be treated equally.”

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