December 18, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Anthony Pastecchi
The ATP has reportedly expressed concern with the U.S. Open’s switch to hosting its finals on a Monday in 2013 and has voiced its opinion on the prize money increase for the tournament. The move to Monday for the men’s finals builds in a rest day ahead of each final and leaves room for makeup days due to weather conditions, however, the ATP is against the change and would continue to fight it.
The USTA also announced that total prize money in 2013 will jump $4 million to a record $29.5 million. The increase is the largest in tournament history, doubling the roughly $2 million hike from 2011 to 2012. The ATP said the increase was ”appreciated” but did not go far enough.
”The ATP and its players have made it clear to the U.S. Open that we do not support a Monday final,” said the ATP in a statement. ”We strongly believe the U.S. Open should keep a similar schedule to the other Grand Slams, with the men’s semifinals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday. It is unfortunate the U.S. Open response did not reflect our views on this issue and the ATP and its players will continue to pursue this matter in its discussions with the USTA.”
Rain and weather-related conditions forced the USTA to postpone the men’s final from its scheduled Sunday slot to Monday each of the past five years. The men’s semifinals in New York will stay on Saturday under the new plan. Wimbledon, the French Open and Australian Open follow another pattern: women’s semifinals Thursday, men’s semifinals Friday, women’s final Saturday, men’s final Sunday.
A decision about 2014 and beyond probably will come after the 2013 tournament.
