CANADIAN ATP AND WTA TOUR EVENTS MAY LOSE TOP-TIER STATUS

          The future of the Canadian Tennis Open "could be
     profoundly affected by discussions currently under way
     concerning the shape of the professional tours," according
     to Tom Tebbutt of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  With a proposed
     expansion of mixed ATP Tour and Corel WTA Tour events from
     two to five, "it appears the choice for a combined summer
     event ... may come down to Cincinnati or Canada."  The new
     structure also "tentatively" involves reducing the men's and
     women's top-level events to seven from nine.  Tennis Canada
     President Bob Moffatt: "We'd rather have a mixed event.  The
     alternative is a downgrading of our men's and women's events
     to second-tier status.  Our calculations show that our
     profitability would fall precipitously because we wouldn't
     be part of (lucrative) tour TV and sponsorship packages"
     (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/13).