Running tennis thread 2016 / 2017

Looked and didn't see one yet, even though a quarter of the majors are done.

Anyway, start this thread with a doozie. Raymond Moore, who runs the tournament in Indian Wells -- considered the fifth major -- is 69 years old and had bit more than a slip of the tongue. This is going to end well for him. Mr. Moore, this is no longer 1972.

Group

 

One man ---- that's right, one man ---- is going to be responsible for Miami losing its tournament in the near future (one I have attended every year since 1994).

Bruce Matheson Single-Handedly Kills the Miami Open

 

What is it with Indian Wells and the Williamses?

Moore's interview/comments brought to my mind those of Al Campanis. Same tone, same mixed message, stumbling over himself and maybe his intent, and coming out looking dumb and really bad.

 

The truth is that a tennis tournament without men is just so-so.

And a tennis tournament without women is just aiight.

Put 'em together, and you've got a good show.

They're riding each others' coattails, and they need each other. The whole is 10x better than either part, and it's not even close.

Every tournament should have both men and women. Get real, tennis. You're competing with a million other sports and entertainment options.

Wise up.

 

This shit about how men should be paid more because they play five sets, and the women play three:

By that logic, Usain Bolt should be making a fraction of the the pay of the 10k runners, or steeplechasers.

 

What's happening in the men's game right now is that a robot has taken over. It's not that interesting at the moment.

 

Rags,

1. Nadal is not competitive.
2. Federer/Murray/Wawrinka are competitive with each other, not Djokovic.
3. Djokovic just beat Raonic 6-2, 6-0 to win IW in a match that was not the least bit entertaining.
4. Monfils ? Really ?
5. As to your earlier post, you talk about Vika like it's over for her, but she just socked it to Serena to win IW.

Welcome to 2016, my bro.

 

By any objective measure, Serena is the biggest star in tennis. Any rational promoter would pick her first as a gate attraction over Djokovic, who is a great champion. Men's and women's tennis have been around for awhile now, and the evidence is clear that in terms of box office, ratings, etc., the advantage ebbs and flows between the two as interest in their top players ebbs and flows. My hardly feminist editor in 1996 sent me to the Open with the words, "focus on the women. The men just don't interest people."

 

In America, only. And only because she's American. Djokovic/Federer/Murray carry far more weight around the rest of the world. Hell, Sharapova is a bigger deal around the world than Serena and makes almost twice as much in endorsement money.

A few years ago --- at the Miami Open tournament I attend every year --- I noticed that 24 of the 26 matches on the Grandstand court were men's matches. I love watching matches on that court, which is second in importance to the main stadium court, because you can get close to the players. And it bothered me that there were almost no women's matches, because I love watching them play.

I asked the tournament director why a combined ATP-WTA event would skew its schedule so heavily on that court to the men.

His reply: "EuroSport television broadcasts matches on that court, and they don't want the women."