ATP Considers Shortening Calendar
The ATP Tour is considering shortening its 11-month season by two or three weeks in 2012 in order to allow the players to rest and avoid injury.??
The ATP board of directors will meet during the ATP Tour World Finals at The O2 Arena in London next month to vote on schedules for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
‘We are taking a good, hard look at our calendar to see if there is a meaningful way to lengthen the offseason that would allow players more time for rest, fitness and working on their game,’ said ATP spokeswoman Kate Gordon.
Some of the proposals being considered would shorten the calendar by two or three weeks and the top players have called for a shorter calendar for years.
‘The issue of season length has been around for a long time and there is no quick fix, but we are committed to giving it real consideration,’ said Gordon.
The top players have called for a shorter tournament calendar for years.
Roger Federer supported the idea of shortening the tour but says the ATP must consider each tournament’s future: ‘It’s a smart idea to cut the calendar short without hurting too many tournaments, and I hope that we can reach a good agreement there.’
