Federer Says Australian Open Should Be Delayed Two Weeks
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Federer Has Met With New ATP
Head Over January Scheduling |
ATP World Tour player Roger Federer yesterday said that the Australian Open "should be delayed a fortnight to allow players to compete in both the cash-rich events in the Persian Gulf and the full local circuit" in Australia, according to Courtney Walsh of THE AUSTRALIAN. Federer, who serves as ATP Player Council President, has met with incoming ATP Exec Chair & President Adam Helfant and also is "expected to discuss a possible revamp" with Kooyong Classic Tournament Dir Colin Stubs this week. Federer said that a schedule review "should be considered that could allow players to congregate in the Persian Gulf over the New Year period before arriving in Australia midway through January." The Australian Open, which begins Sunday, would be held in February according to Federer's timeline. Meanwhile, Federer also "plans to push for increases in prizemoney despite the global financial crisis." Federer: "We are trying to make it as good as we can for everybody. We are always trying to get the prizemoney increased as well, because I think tournaments have done really well over the years. I think at the moment it is a bit of a crunch obviously, so we are sensitive to that issue, but I think now having a new CEO, the chance is to make tennis even better" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/15). But Australian Open officials have "dismissed suggestions" from Federer that the tournament "should be switched from its usual January time slot." Australian Open Tournament Dir Craig Tiley: "There are events that are around the world as there are before and after the Australian Open ... but we don't see them as any threat at all to our lead-in series" (London TELEGRAPH, 1/15).
HOLE TO FILL: The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour German Open has been cancelled for this year, but a tour spokesperson said the cancelation "has nothing to do with the global credit crunch." The Qatar Tennis Federation, which ran the tourney, "made the decision that they no longer wish to operate the [event] and to sell the membership back to the Tour." The spokesperson added negotiations are "on going to see if another tournament will fill in the gap" for the week beginning May 18 (REUTERS, 1/14).
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