Sunday, August 06, 2000
Year of change for ATP Tour, tourney
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Some of the differences you will notice. Some you won't. This is a year of many changes for the event now known as Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.
Such as:
• The name: Might as well start there. The tournament had been called the Great American ATP Championship since 1996, and before that the Thriftway ATP Championship. It's the same event, just more prestige.
The ATP was part of the Mercedes Super 9 series of tournaments, which, after the four Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open), were the best in the world.
A Swiss marketing company named ISL Worldwide bought the exclusive marketing, broadctasing and licensing rights to the ATP Tour for 10 years for $1.2 billion. They have packaged the Tennis Master Series tournaments for uniformity.
• Color: Speaking of uni formity, all courts at Tennis Masters Series events will be a shade of purple. That matches the TMS logo, and should create an identity for the upper-echelon events.
“Purple? Are you kidding me or what?” Magnus Norman said when first asked about the color of the courts in Toronto.
Said Pete Sampras:
• Status: The Super 9 tournaments are now called Tennis Masters Series, and they are mandatory for players ranked high enough to get in. If players don't participate, they receive zero points in the year-long champions points race. Which is also new.
Because of Cincinnati's elite status, the field of players is guaranteed to be strong. Except for injuries, all the top guys should be here.
• Standings: The ATP Tour releases a weekly Champions Race. All players started in January with zero points, and the idea is that the top player for the year 2000 will be No. 1 at the end of year. (see Page 4)
There are changes specific to the local event, too.
• Prize money: Has increased to $2.95 million from $2.4 million.
• Field; It's 64, up from 56. That means there are no first-round byes. So players like Sampras and Agassi will have to play Monday or Tuesday and win six matches for the title.
• TV: CBS will televise the final.
• Start times: New for Saturday night (6:30 p.m. for second semifinal vs. 8 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m. for final vs. 4 p.m.).
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