A Fistful of Dollars

[Moxie]

Actually, I don't have any problems with exhibition matches being played by any
player. I also don't have a problem with the huge amounts of money they make playing
these exos (the money made by Nadal in SA tour is equivalent to that can be got by
winning 7 USO trophies). If somebody is willing to pay, what is our problem.

As already pointed by many, there are at least 3 upside to these exos.

1. It acts as a practice session for players. (not all but some; not SA but Mudabala for example)
2. Players get to make lot of money.
3. Players act as ambassadors bringing the game to tennis impoverished countries.

My only problem is if the same players keep complaining about the length of Tennis
Schedule by ATP. I am not going to name names. You know who complains and who
does not.

Kieran has been willing to name names, and he's a big Nadal fan. I agree with him, to some extent…it's a bad look. However, a few hit-and-giggles is not the same as required tournament play. ITF has shortened the year, a bit, in a way that I think is good. So some complaining works. And, as you say, the top players are big ambassadors for the sport. There is a lot of extra publicity and obligation that goes with being at the top of the game.

South America has been short-changed by tennis, even though a lot of top players come from there. Roger going there last year, Rafa actually playing there this year, and the Peru + Nalbandian send-off with Rafa and Nole in Argentina was huge for the sport down there. And now Rio is getting a MS 500. Attention can't only be focused on growing the game in Asia, and the rich countries in the middle East.