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Here is this week's edition of Tough Call. Which double Is the toughest? Is it Indian Wells/Miami, Madrid/Rome, or Canada/Cincinnati?
Ready, set, go....
Reasons Madrid/Rome Is The Toughest Masters 1000 Double:
~ It’s two Masters 1000s in two weeks: Madrid/Rome is one of only two pairs of Masters 1000 events that are held in two back-to-back weeks (also Canada/Cincinnati).
~ It’s the only Masters 1000 double on clay: Two straight weeks of long, grueling clay court rallies may be tougher than the two weeks of shorter rallies in Canada/Cincinnati.
~ The altitude change: Madrid and Rome are both clay court events but Madrid is held in much higher altitude than Rome (so the ball moves much faster in Madrid than in Rome).
Reasons Indian Wells/Miami Is The Toughest Masters 1000 Double:
~ Indian Wells/Miami have bigger draws: Yes they’re each held over two weeks, but to win Indian Wells or Miami you might have to win seven matches (six if you get a bye). Meanwhile, Madrid/Rome and Canada/Cincinnati are maximum six (five with a bye).
~ Indian Wells/Miami has a significant time zone change: If you’ve won Indian Wells, you have to move ahead three hours within days before getting started again in Miami.
Reasons Canada/Cincinnati Is The Toughest Masters 1000 Double:
~ Canada/Cincinnati is much later in the season: While Indian Wells/Miami is in March and Madrid/Rome in May, Canada/Cincinnati is all the way in August, when many players have already played almost two thirds of the season, and aren’t at peak freshness.
~ Of the three doubles, Canada/Cincinnati has been by far the most elusive: Indian Wells/Miami has been done in 12 of the 29 years it’s been there since 1990 (41%); Madrid/Rome has been done in 3 of the 9 years it’s been there since 2009 (33%); and Canada/Cincinnati has been won in just 4 of the 29 years it’s been there since 1990 (14%!)
JOEL DRUCKER: YES