The clay court season is very short and concentrated on one period,
contrary to the hard court season.
 

In 2009, this period will be even
shorter with the presentation of 3 Masters Series (Monte Carlo, from April
21st to 27th, Rome; from May 5th to 11th and Hamburg; from May 12th to
18th); and one Grand Slam (Roland Garros, from May 26th to June 8th). All
these major tournaments are played in only 5 weeks !
These are Important and even mandatory tournaments for the players, and most
all of the clay court players only have this short period to gain maximum
points on that surface; not to mention the Spanish players who will want
to play the Barcelona tournament, from April 24th to May 4th. By doing so,
they will play one tournament after the other, during one month without any
break. This is very tough, both physically and mentally !
In what other sport is such a rhythm imposed on the athletes ? In what
physical state will those players be to continue the season after such an
effort? Why do the clay court tennis players get so little consideration
from the authorities of the ATP ? Why do they give them no choice with
such a calendar ? It’s a lack of respect !
The clay court season must not become a heavy task for the players. Tennis
must remain a pleasure for them, but this schedule is most of all DANGEROUS
FOR THE PLAYERS’ HEALTH, AND THUS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE !
PLAYERS NEED OUR SUPPORT !
Tennis players do not have much time to complain, so in order to honor
their strength and their hard work, let’s get together to spread our
message to the players and to those who are in charge of the schedule at
the ATP. Post this article wherever you want ! 
by Eleanor Crooks, PA Sport


Rafael Nadal is hoping for a very busy four weeks - and he is not happy about it.
The Spaniard launched a strongly-worded attack on the Association of Tennis Professionals this week
over the scheduling of the ATP Tour.
Nadal clearly feels the calendar is not designed with the players in mind, and he certainly has a
point.
The issue has come to a head because this week's Monte Carlo Masters is the first of three such
events - the second tier behind the Grand Slams - in four weeks.
When you take into account all the tournaments are on clay - the most physically demanding surface- and follow hot on the heels of two other Masters Series events in America last month, the difficulties become clear.
"I have said it several times, the calendar is completely crazy. Three Masters in four weeks, it is too much," Nadal insisted.
Masters Series events are mandatory for the top players so they cannot simply choose to miss one, although they will be able to next year.

But considering the way the rankings are decided, it is unlikely how many players will consider
that a realistic option. Points earned depend on how a player performed in the same event the previous year, so missing a tournament could mean a big drop in the rankings.

Nadal has dominated the clay season for the past three years, winning the French Open on each
occasion, so he must match his performances simply to stand still.
The 21-year-old appears to have his best chance of overhauling Roger Federer to become world number one this year, and to even have a hope of doing that he must remain all but unbeatable on clay.
Last year, Nadal defended his titles in Monte Carlo and Rome before losing in the final in Hamburg to Federer.
Repeating the feat virtually back to back will be a tough ask, even for a man whose physical
fitness is legendary.
A revamp of the calendar next year is unlikely to make things easier for the athletes, with the ATP well aware they need to satisfy sponsors and television as well.
Nadal is reportedly one of a number of top players who have signed a petition calling for ATP
president Etienne de Villiers not to be given another term in charge.
"I think the board, everything, has to change," Nadal said. "A lot of things have to change at the
ATP because right now the players no longer have confidence in the ATP."
And the issue of scheduling is unlikely to go away with the Olympics in Beijing an added
complication this season.
The tournament is in the first week of the Games but ends less than a fortnight before the US Openand players who compete in China may be harming their chances of success at Flushing Meadows.
There is little doubt the tennis calendar is overblown and, combined with the ranking system, is pressurising the players into competing too much.
The results of this are most evident at the end-of-season Masters Cup, which is supposed to
showcase the cream of the crop but is nearly always plagued by withdrawals and fatiguedplayers
falling well below their best.
Nadal has brought the issue into the public domain, but forcing any meaningful change will be a
much harder battle
Nadal slams clay court calendar change




BREMEN, Germany, April 11 (Reuters) - Spain's Rafael Nadal hit out on Friday at 'outrageous'
changes to the ATP Tour calendar with this year's three claycourt Masters Series events crammed into four weeks.
The usual two-week gap between Monte Carlo and Rome has been cut in half this season, a move Nadal blamed on a scheduling issue with the NCAA College Basketball in the United States.
Nadal, the world's outstanding claycourt player, will now compete at Monte Carlo, Rome,Barcelona and Hamburg in successive weeks and he said changing the calendar showed a lack of respect for European players.
"It's an outrageous way to treat European and claycourt players," Nadal said at a news conference after winning the first point for Spain in their Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany in Bremen.
"The truth is the ATP is making our lives almost impossible.
"Moving Miami and Indian Wells back because of college basketball is something I understand because
it's very important to them but this is a world tour.
"We only have three Masters Series events and we have to play them with an important tournament ike Barcelona all running together.
"I'm tired of complaining about this but the people in charge of this don't share my opinion and I
have to respect that."

Monday, 12 October 2009 21:52 UK Nadal  Roddick query tour length

Roddick (left) and Nadal are inaction  in Shanghai

Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick have questioned the length of the ATP season and suggested that tennis players need a proper off-season.

World number two Nadal and world number six Roddick are currently in China for the Shanghai Masters.

"It's impossible to play 1 January and finish 5 December," said Nadal.

American Roddick said: "It's ridiculous that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate off-season to rest, get healthy, and then train."

The 27-year-old added: "I just feel sooner or later that common sense has to prevail."

I don't see any other sporting leagues or federations following our lead as far as not being individually represented Andy Roddick

The top players on the men's tour are required to play in eight of the nine Master Series events, with Monte Carlo the exception.

And the top eight players of the year are required to play an extra week by qualifying for next month's season-ending tournament in London.

Roddick said merging the players' union and tournament operation under the ATP umbrella, which took place in 1990, has not benefited players as expected.

"I certainly don't see any other sporting leagues or federations following our lead as far as not being individually represented," Roddick said.

Nadal, who did not defend his Wimbledon title this year because of a knee injury, added: "It's impossible... being all the time 100% without problems."


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