ATP World Tour To Pay Barcelona Event Over Nadal's Withdrawal

By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

ATP To Pay Second-Tier Barcelona Event $120,000 For Withdrawal Of Nadal

The ATP World Tour approved a US$120,000 payment to the Barcelona tournament because Rafael Nadal pulled out of the April event, according to a summary of the men's tennis group's recent BOD meeting, a copy of which was obtained by SportsBusiness Journal. The Tour was not obligated to make the payment, but changed its rules so in the future it would be required to under the circumstances that transpired with Barcelona. Under the rules, second-tier ATP events like Barcelona are guaranteed at least one premium player, and in this case it was Nadal. If the player does not compete, then the ATP must pay the tournament US$156,000. But the previous wording of the rule said if the player was in the draw, no payment need be made. In Nadal's case, he pulled out between the time of the draw and first match. So the ATP changed the rule, according to the meeting summary, so "the time when the Field Determination is made for the purpose of determining a payment from the escrow account shall be the start of the first match, singles or doubles, for each premier player."