The Revival of Grass Court Tennis

[Kirijax]

A few years ago, it seemed like grass court tennis was dying off. coming only two weeks after the long and grueling clay court season, the grass court season barely had time to showcase itself before it was over and done with and everyone was heading off to the states for the long hard court season. And that's a shame because grass court tennis is maybe the most visible and noticeable tennis for casual sports fans. I remember as a kid seeing Wimbledon on TV before I ever became interested in any kind of sports and I knew what it was; a big tennis tournament over in England.
As a fan of all kinds of tennis, whether it be hard, clay, indoor or grass, it was a shame that tennis was losing maybe it's most visible image. But boy did tennis sure take a step in the right direction this year. There are now three weeks between the major tournaments and the two of the grass tournaments, Halle and Aegon and now 500 tournaments, and Stuttgart is now a grass court tournament. While there are still some things that could happen to improve the grass court season, this has been a great revival for grass and I hope it continues. A Bleacher Report article took up the subject last year and mentioned several things that could be done for the grass court season. One was to have a four-week break between the French open and Wimbledon and the other was to make Halle a Masters 1000 tournament. It's a travesty that there are nine Masters 1000 tournament and not one of them are on grass.
But this season has certainly taken huge steps in reviving the grass court season. I hope it continues.

How Tennis Should Bolster the Grass-Court Season

Mercedes Cup Organizers Plant Grass to Grow Event’s Profile

The Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle, Germany

 

[tennisville]

Personally a small grass court season added value to wimbledon much more I thought. Players had to figure out the grass during the event which was fun to watch

 

[El Dude]

I like the idea of having a Masters level tournament as grass. Or they could turn Indian Wells into a Slam, although that would never happen as the four is a sacred cow that I don't see changing. Maybe one of Rome or Madrid could be downgraded to a 500, or maybe 10 Masters is good.

 

[Kirijax]

What are the requirements for a tournament to be upgraded to a Masters? Halle seems like it has the facilities, but maybe I'm just fooled by their Stadion.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I understand the Masters situation isn't as simple as "we're making Queens a Masters 1000 event now" but it can't be so complicated to where it can't happen (it doesn't have to be Queens. Just citing it as an example). ATP should have gotten their act together and at least put plans into motion by now. This has been a legit talking point for years.

 

[Kirijax]

I know the Queen's is rich in history, it's almost as old as Wimbledon, but I think that Halle deserves the Masters 1000 status more. Or Germany rather. They got screwed out of Masters status with Hamburg a few years back and the facilities are larger too I think. Haven't seen the numbers but it sure looks that way. A four week-gap with a 250, 500 Queen's, Halle Masters, another 250 and then Wimbledon followed by Newport would make a great grass court season.

 

[August]

Queen's Club doesn't have the facilities for a M1000 but Halle could easily have. But halle is obviously quite small a town so hard to see a Masters there. Ideal would be if they could have grass courts on the tennis stadium of Hamburg.

But a grass masters would probably require getting rid of another Masters. I'd suggest Madrid, on turn it into a grass event in June. Just imagine the fast altitude grass.

 

[Kirijax]

Queen's Club doesn't have the facilities for a M1000 but Halle could easily have. But halle is obviously quite small a town so hard to see a Masters there. Ideal would be if they could have grass courts on the tennis stadium of Hamburg.

But a grass masters would probably require getting rid of another Masters. I'd suggest Madrid, on turn it into a grass event in June. Just imagine the fast altitude grass.

I would say make Monte Carlo a 500 since MC and Hamburg were on the chopping block a few years ago and somehow Monte Carlo finagled a deal to stay while Hamburg got cut.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Queen's Club doesn't have the facilities for a M1000 but Halle could easily have. But halle is obviously quite small a town so hard to see a Masters there. Ideal would be if they could have grass courts on the tennis stadium of Hamburg.

But a grass masters would probably require getting rid of another Masters. I'd suggest Madrid, on turn it into a grass event in June. Just imagine the fast altitude grass.

I would say make Monte Carlo a 500 since MC and Hamburg were on the chopping block a few years ago and somehow Monte Carlo finagled a deal to stay while Hamburg got cut.

That was because, Monte Carlo cooperated with ATP and agreed to be designated as non-mandatory event in exchange for retaining the 1000 points. On the other hand, Hamburg got irritated that they are being thrown out of the proper clay season (after Miami and before RG) and so sued the ATP and lost a court case. As they fought with ATP, they could not negotiate a deal any more. They got screwed in multiple ways. 1) They are thrown out of prime clay season 2) They got reduced to 500 event 3) They are non-mandatory (like any other 500 event).

The one thing that can easily be done is to move Hamburg to the same week as Barcelona and have two parallel clay 500 events in the same week (like they do in Beijing & Tokyo or Basel & Valencia or Dubai & Acapulco). However, due to bad blood between ATP and Hamburg, it may never materialize.

 

[Kirijax]

Queen's Club doesn't have the facilities for a M1000 but Halle could easily have. But halle is obviously quite small a town so hard to see a Masters there. Ideal would be if they could have grass courts on the tennis stadium of Hamburg.

But a grass masters would probably require getting rid of another Masters. I'd suggest Madrid, on turn it into a grass event in June. Just imagine the fast altitude grass.

I would say make Monte Carlo a 500 since MC and Hamburg were on the chopping block a few years ago and somehow Monte Carlo finagled a deal to stay while Hamburg got cut.

That was because, Monte Carlo cooperated with ATP and agreed to be designated as non-mandatory event in exchange for retaining the 1000 points. On the other hand, Hamburg got irritated that they are being thrown out of the proper clay season (after Miami and before RG) and so sued the ATP and lost a court case. As they fought with ATP, they could not negotiate a deal any more. They got screwed in multiple ways. 1) They are thrown out of prime clay season 2) They got reduced to 500 event 3) They are non-mandatory (like any other 500 event).

The one thing that can easily be done is to move Hamburg to the same week as Barcelona and have two parallel clay 500 events in the same week (like they do in Beijing & Tokyo or Basel & Valencia or Dubai & Acapulco). However, due to bad blood between ATP and Hamburg, it may never materialize.

Yeah, I remember some of those details. Monte Carlo bent over for the ATP but Hamburg fought them tooth and nail and lost. Shame really.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

 

[Kirijax]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

JLLB, do you know what that criteria is? A quick search didn't help.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

Hamburg considered switching to grass and then said to ATP, no thanks. I don't know the reason as they did not bother to explain. Also, Newport, USA said no thanks to the offer from ATP to potentially change their timing and make it a part of the grass warm-up season. Newport had weather/commercialism/profit motive behind their decision. They thought it will be too hot at that time etc.

 

[Kieran]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

Hamburg considered switching to grass and then said to ATP, no thanks. I don't know the reason as they did not bother to explain.

Rafa Nadal complained :snicker

 

[Fiero425]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

Hamburg considered switching to grass and then said to ATP, no thanks. I don't know the reason as they did not bother to explain.

Rafa Nadal complained :snicker

All of the Top players have been complaining about how long the season is already; to require participation in another mandatory event would start a revolt! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

JLLB, do you know what that criteria is? A quick search didn't help.

yes, I have read about it before, not sure where though, some official atp info somewhere, all tourneys atp 250/500/1000 must reach the minimum required level of stadia/facilities/capacity/stuff as stated by atp (dunno the exact specifics),

but its why halle/queens cannot be masters, the location they are situated does not have enough room for capacity expansion/number of courts needed to make the masters grade.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

let us let the grasscourt season grow.

I'd like a grass masters as 6 hardcourt, 3 clay, 0 grass masters seems slightly lopsided. where to have it though ?.:huh: as we know atp set down certain media/stadium facilities/capacity criteria that confined places as halle n queens club would never be able to be a masters tourney..

..the only way to have a grass masters without a new build maybe would be to change hambourg post Wimbledon clay 500 tourney into a post Wimbledon grass masters, it used to be a masters on clay a few years back, so is presumably has facilities..

weather hambourg tourney organisers would want to change from clay to grass is unknown, then where to take a masters off to make room for a grass one ?..

problems Bernard..problems everywhere.

JLLB, do you know what that criteria is? A quick search didn't help.

yes, I have read about it before, not sure where though, some official atp info somewhere, all tourneys atp 250/500/1000 must reach the minimum required level of stadia/facilities/capacity/stuff as stated by atp (dunno the exact specifics),

but its why halle/queens cannot be masters, the location they are situated does not have enough room for capacity expansion/number of courts needed to make the masters grade.

I too remember vaguely reading about it. However, my recollection is that Queens does not have any hope of meeting the criteria. However, either Halle has already met or can easily meet the criteria if needed.

 

[tennisamateur]

i've always enjoyed watching tennis on grass more than any other type of court so yeah i hope it does continue

 

[shoezipper]

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[Frode789]

Time to dig up this one again. It really annoys me oldest court surface is being shafted as much as it is now. A tiny 20% of ATP points are gained on grass, and there are 0 masters on grass. Unlike what many suggest, I would NOT upgrade Halle or Queens to 1000. They should both be 500s, it would be catastrophic to either if 1 of them got to be a masters.

1. Hamburg should have been a masters 1000 grass tournament.
2. I really don't understand the clay tournaments in july calendar.. The season is over. There should be more space for grass in July, rather than using space for clay tournaments.
3. Demote either Rome or Madrid to 500, to keep the same amount of masters as now. MC struck a deal with being optional, so I guess they should keep their 1000 status.