Playoff Season: ATP moving forward with round-robin events

It's predictable: the big stars are positive about the idea of round-robin events while lower-ranked players aren't quite so sure. But Roger Federer is breaking ranks.

How to make men's tennis a hotter ticket? After completing a radical overhaul of the doubles game last year, the ATP tour is now setting its sights on singles competition. One of the ideas being considered is round-robin events, where the traditional single-elimination format would be replaced by playoff groups during the early rounds.

The primary purpose of the plan is to reduce early exits by top players, who drive attendance and TV ratings for tournaments. Currently, a star attraction like Marcos Baghdatis might travel from an event in France to one in Japan and lose in the first round because of jet-lag, quickly depriving the event of one of its marquee names. Under the round-robin format, Baghdatis could have an off-day and still go on to win the title.

The ATP will be trying out the format in 2007, along with other planned changes like starting some tournaments on Sunday.

“It is our goal to increase the consumption of the sport,” said new ATP head Etienne de Villiers last year. The former Disney executive was appointed chairman of the ATP in 2005 and has since also taken over the role of president.

But while a majority of top players appear to favor the experiment, De Villiers now finds that world No. 1 Roger Federer – who currently is to tennis what Mickey Mouse is to Disney – has decided he’s not on board. “I thought it was an interesting idea in the first place. Now I'm not a big fan any more of it,” said Federer in Madrid.

These days, players who lose in the early rounds will often quickly head to the airport after their match, knowing their tournament is over. Under a round robin format, it would take a few days to see which players will advance. That doesn’t appeal to Federer. “You lose the first round, you want to stick around for maybe not even being able to qualify,” he said. “It's kind of maybe a losing battle, I think.”

It’s not the first time Federer has opted for a traditional stance. He also dislikes the use of the Hawkeye computerized replay to correct linecalls, which is becoming increasingly common at tournaments.

“Just keep the knockout system. That's so unique about tennis, one bad day, you're out. [It’s] like the Hawkeye. I didn't like it in the first place, I still don't like it today. It's unnecessary,” he said.

Other top players have reacted more positively, with Rafael Nadal expressing enthusiasm. “I totally agree with the change in the system to round robin… that favours the show, the players and the tournament. Everyone. I am thrilled,” he said.

Nadal, 20, showed his business acumen when he added that “round robin favors earning more money.”

The system creates more security for the event, he explained, which should translate into better pay for the players. “People want to see Federer, Roddick, now perhaps me. And this way they will see them at least twice, instead of once. If the world No. 2 or the world No. 1 lose in the first round it is a catastrophe for the tournament. Tournaments will be longer, but if you want to earn more money that's the way it is."

The reference to longer tournaments alludes to the debate over how the round-robin system will work in practice. The details have not yet been officially established, but De Villiers said in Madrid that the standard structure will be 16 groups of three players for tournaments with a 48-player draw, and eight groups of three for a 24-player draw, with single-elimination during the final rounds.

Nadal said he would prefer to see players play off in groups of four rather than three.

Tournaments like Adelaide, Barcelona and Buenos Aires have shown interest in adopting the system for 2007. The goal is to make the new format mandatory for 2009. “We will have 12 tournaments or so experimenting next year,” said De Villiers. “Most of the players are very positive about this.”

“The tournament directors want to have the best players the whole week and it’s understandable,” concluded Marat Safin.

But lower-ranked players wonder whether round-robin will make it more difficult for them to do well. “We didn’t have a say in all this. They only consulted the Nadals and Federers,” Nicolas Mahut, ranked No 65, told France's Tennis Magazine.

But many involved in the game’s administration seem to believe the idea is worth trying. Ion Tiriac, promoter of the Master Series event in Madrid, approves of the push for change. “Maybe it’s good, maybe bad, but they are committed to do something that nobody had the guts to do in tennis,” he said. “It’s the only sport that has not changed in a hundred years, except for the tie-break. I was ready for the round robin 40 years ago.”

Madrid tournament director and former Wimbledon champion Manolo Santana is also on board, though it remains to be seen whether the system will eventually be implemented at larger events like Madrid. “When the ATP is ready, we are ready,” said Santana. I think this system can make tennis more fan-friendly, you’ll have the big names playing at least twice. It’s like the soccer World Cup, Brazil will play three times for sure.”

Buenos Aires director Martin Jaite said, “We are one of the first tournaments that want to try it. If the experience ends up being something nobody likes, then we can go back.”

De Villiers, a former consultant for Formula One racing, has the same philosophy. “Doing it, trying it and fixing it. You have the time and luxury to experiment, why don’t we?”