German federation attacks ATP restructuring

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- The head of the German Tennis Federation said the ATP's planned tournament restructuring would have a devastating effect on the annual men's clay court event in Hamburg.

Georg von Waldenfels testified Tuesday that the ATP's plan to move the Hamburg tournament from May to July and downgrade it to second-tier status would make it difficult to attract top players to Germany.

Von Waldenfels also said he believes that the ATP is contractually prohibited from downgrading any of its top-level tournaments before 2010.

His testimony came on the second day of a federal U.S. court trial. The German federation has claimed the Association of Tennis Professionals' -- which has offices in Sydney, Australia; Monte Carlo and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, but is incorporated in the U.S. state of Delaware -- planned tournament restructuring violates American antitrust laws by attempting to monopolize player commitments and tournament sanctions in men's professional tennis.