THE LOW DOWN: Rafa's frustrated with March Madness and he's not gonna take it anymore!
Miami finalist Rafael Nadal isn't happy - and it's not because he lost a winnable final to Nikolay Davydenko. The World No. 2, who recently blogged about his annoyance with doubles policies, thinks the March US hardcourt swing is too tightly scheduled and compromises the success at the tourneys for many European players, including himself.
After Rafa dismissed nemesis Tomas Berdych on Friday he told the press,
It's not fair to have one month, two tournaments, and after go back to Europe and we have to play three Masters Series on clay. We only have three Masters Series (Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg) during all the season, and we have three in four weeks. For us it's terrible. And three Masters Series in the middle of the biggest tournament on clay in the world: Barcelona. So if you see the calendar, that is unbelievable.And what does the 21-year old blame for the 'unbelievable' scheduling in his mind?
I know here it's very important, the college basketball, because I saw always the American players and the men in the locker room watching always this. But, we can't have the (ATP) thinking about the college basketball, no? So we are 100 per cent disappointed about this (scheduling) decision of the ATP.According to Rafa, he's not the only baller feeling this way either:
European players are very angry about these decisions. For me it's terrible. I'm a clay player, but I can play very well on all surface. But playing four weeks it's impossible if you are playing well.Me thinks Rafa doth complain too much. A baller can be successful at both tournaments and sometimes win the Indian Wells-Miami double, though it's rare. But the same argument could be made for American ballers and their love for the European clay-court swing, including Roland Garros, and then the grass-court warm-ups leading to Wimbledon. If you throw a Davis Cup match on foreign soil in the mix, which falls right after Wimby, you're screwed.
I believe the schedule is too long in general, but the it effects everyone in one way or another. That's the way the yellow ball bounces so suck it up.
*VIA DOWNTHELINETENNIS.COM
(image via AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Comment
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Comment by tennis baller on April 8, 2008 at 1:53pm
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poor grass - it used to be THE surface and now it's relegated to a month or so out of the year. but i think it's difficult + expensive to maintain.
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Comment by Mark / The Mayor on April 8, 2008 at 11:15am
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More Grass!
That's true - if any surface is slighted, it's the green stuff. Could help Roddick's ranking a bit too.
M
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i want more grass - maybe drop a clay or hard Series a create a grass one.
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Great post! Sounds like the best man on clay wants a bit more respect for the dirt. Can't blame him really. I'd like to see clay tennis get more pub.
M
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