Sunday, August 06, 2000
U.S. Open warmup? Wash your mouth out!
Top players make Cincinnati world-class event
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It is a phrase that sends the normally reserved Paul Flory on the offensive: U.S. Open warmup.
Seldom does Flory hear the event now known as Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati referred to as a tuneup for the Grand Slam event in Flushing, N.Y. But when he does, the tournament chairman is not happy.
“Every once in a while, somebody will think they're being pretty sagacious and they'll say, "Oh, you're a warmup for the U.S. Open.' Then I go crazy and spew all over the place because it's just not so,” Flory said. “I think now, over the last few years, we don't hear that much.”
Cincinnati can boast of playing host to one of the top 13 tennis tournaments in the world, one of the top five in North America, one of the top four in the United States. Players ranked high enough now must play here.
Even aside from all that, the event formerly known as the Great American Insurance ATP Championship has dis tinguished itself:
• Last year was the first time in six years the top four seeds of an ATP Tour event advanced to the semifinals
• The last 15 years, 29 of 30 players in the championship match have been ranked in the top 10. The exception: Ivan lendl (No. 11.) in 1992.
• Nobody lower than a seventh seed has even won
• For 20 straight years, the winner in Cincinnati has qualified for the eight-man ATP Tour World Championship at the end of the year. No other tournament can stake that claim.
“What is a warmup?” Flory said. “A warmup is when you're out practicing strokes and not caring whether you win or lose. They care whether they win or lose.”
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