WTA Tour Chief Larry Scott Rejects Idea of US Open Sunday Start
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Sep 8, 2007 | Print |
The United States Tennis Association is considering the possibility of a Sunday night start for future US Opens, but not everyone agrees that it is a good idea.
Leading the opposition is Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Chairman and CEO Larry Scott.
The USTA believes that a Sunday start could help improve television ratings - and promote the players better.
“We feel that fans and TV viewers are doubled or tripled on a Sunday, and that’s good for the sport. So that’s something we’re going to continue to look at,” U.S. Tennis Association executive Arlen Kantarian said according to this AP article.
“The purpose behind a Sunday start would be to better promote the game, to better promote ATP and WTA players. We’re here to provide the best possible showcase for the players and the sport.”
Although the USTA is still in the “discussion” stage, WTA Tour chief Larry Scott has said that he opposes any plans to extend the tournament.
“We’re strongly opposed to increasing the length of a Grand Slam,” WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott said Friday. “Our players feel that . . . more is not necessarily better — for the game, for the players, for the fans.”
Two weeks is long enough for a Grand Slam. Adding another day would only sacrifice player wellbeing on the altar of commercial value.
Many players compete at the two preceding warm-up events in New Haven and Forest Hills. At least give them one day to rest before the US Open begins.
Furthermore as Scott continued, it may eventually lead to a Saturday start.
“It’s more a matter of principle and the opening the crack in the door,” added Scott. “I can guarantee you that if two matches work well on Sunday night, we’ll be sitting here in the next few years — ‘Because two matches Sunday night were good, two matches Sunday afternoon will be great.’ And then it will be Saturday afternoon.”
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Nexty | Sep 8, 2007 | Reply
come on… For the fans and the players or for money???
Alsacienne | Sep 9, 2007 | Reply
television ratings would be a lot better if the Tv stations would put tennis in prime time NO MATTER if live or not. It can’t be helped that the US Open night sessions will be in the middle of the night in Europe, but who is going to watch if Eurosport puts on a 45 Min summary at 7:30 sunday morning? Come on… More tennis on Sat and Sun will certainly not lead to more tennis on TV