Calendar complaints ring hollow from stars joining IPTL

Over the years, the top players on the men’s side have been constantly complaining about the tennis calendar.

The most vocal has been Rafael Nadal. “The schedule is crazy,” he said before the start of the 2011 US Open “Because of it, we will all have to retire when we are young.”

Back in 2012, the Spaniard even had a dig at Roger Federer for not supporting the other players in their demands for a change. "For him it's good to say nothing," Nadal said "Everything positive. 'It's all well and good for me, I look like a gentleman', and the rest can burn themselves."

Andy Murray, another vocal critic of the ATP schedule, had even threatened a player strike in 2012 if the Tour refused to listen to their demands for a shorter calendar.

Just last week in Dubai, Tomas Berdych criticised the Davis Cup schedule, saying it "finishes so late and that makes a difficult season even more difficult".

Yet, all three, along with world No 2 Novak Djokovic, are fine travelling to four different cities, from the end of November to the middle of December, as part of a new circus going by the name of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).

“Oh, but those are just fun, one-set exhibition matches, not the same as the gruelling tour,” say the apologists. By that reasoning, we should assume that injuries and accidents cannot happen in these festive matches. Apparently travelling to four different countries across Asia inside two weeks also is not a problem because it is the off-season; it is hectic only if you are travelling to 12 mandatory events across the first 45 weeks.

Then we hear such altruistic arguments about how this IPTL will forward the cause of tennis in the continent.

“It’s going to promote tennis in the Asian part of the world,” said Djokovic in Dubai. “That is a huge market.”

Really? This year, the ATP will be visiting six Asian countries for eight tournaments, including two 500 series tournaments and a Masters. The WTA has scheduled 17 events in Asia for 2014, across 10 countries, including one mandatory tournament and the season-ending WTA Championships in Singapore.

If the ATP were to add another mandatory event in Asia, say Mumbai, to their calendar, will these players be as excited about promotion of tennis in this part of the world?

It is just about the money, nothing else. So just say it.

Nobody can have any qualms about the top players making a bit extra in their off-season. They have earned that right.

According to reports, last year, Nadal made US$10 million (Dh36.7m) in one week of exhibitions in South America and that is absolutely fine. Federer did the same in 2012 and reportedly made $12m.

There are a few other reasons for these players to be a part of the IPTL.

Nadal’s agent, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, is the press spokesman for the IPTL, while Djokovic’s coach, Boris Becker, is a co-founder of the IPTL along with India’s Mahesh Bhupathi. Morgan Menahem, who manages Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, is the chief executive, while Bhupathi was managing Murray’s business interests before last winter.

Federer has not chosen to be a part of the IPTL, but has wished them well. So do we, but can the players please stop moaning about the calendar?

Because, like the Swiss said a couple of years back, the Tour is the only means of livelihood for the other not-so-privileged tennis pros.

“It’s easy for the top 10,” Federer said at the 2012 Australian Open. “We get offered exhibition matches and wild cards to shape our income and season how we wish. That’s not a luxury afforded to everyone. A lot of livelihoods are at stake.”

arizvi@thenational.ae

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