Tennis Season Too Long?

Andy Roddick

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From my previous post you'’ll notice several top players remain question marks for the season ending Masters Cup, including: Federer, Nadal, Agassi, and Hewitt. Marat Safin has already withdrawn to focus on being fit for the 2006 Australian Open. The organizers of the final masters tournament of the year in Paris have complained, as their main draw has been depleted of top players due to injury. According to players, the sport has grown more physically demanding, thus making them more prone to injury. Many have called for shortening the competitive season. Mark Miles, former ATP chief executive agrees that the season is too long and that nine masters tournaments is too many. I agree. A season that stretches from January to November is too long. Reducing the number of tournaments is essential. Which tournaments would go? It will require making tough decisions--decisions that need to be made. I would suggest ending the season in September. Follow the U.S. Open directly with the Masters Cup and Davis Cup finals, and call it a year.

Andy Roddick, who also has complained that the season is too long, should consider himself lucky, as being healthy puts him in position to win the Masters Cup after what some call a lackluster year. Critics complain that he lost in the first round of the U.S. Open, Masters Montreal, and Masters Madrid and seemed unfocused. Further, he still has not found a way to beat Roger Federer, whom he faced in the finals Cincinatti and Wimbledon. But in all fairness, few people have found a way to defeat the world number one. Roddick has posted a 56-13 record while winning five tournaments (Houston, London / Queen's Club, San Jose, Lyon, Washington ). His supporters point out that he has improved his game; working on his backhand and coming to net more often. They also note that his titles come on multiple surfaces (grass, hard, clay, indoor). I say he had a good year, consistently remaining one of the top players of the world. He may not rank as high as he did in 2003, but he has become a more complete player.