[CxofxJFm]

After four consecutive years of rain-postponed men's finals, the U.S. Open is looking into changing its schedule as soon as next year and could become the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to switch permanently to a Monday finish.

Tournament director Jim Curley told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday that the U.S. Tennis Association started discussions last month with broadcaster CBS about finding a way to heed top players' calls for a day off between the men's semifinals and final.

Currently, the U.S. Open is the only major tournament that schedules those matches on consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday.

Roger Federer, whose record 16 Grand Slam titles include five at the U.S. Open, was among those who said during this year's tournament that it's time to rethink the schedule. He called Wednesday's word of possible changes "the right move for our sport."

One proposal under consideration would add a 15th day to the tournament, shifting the men's final from Sunday to Monday, and the women's final from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon. That also would give the women a day to rest between their semifinals and final.

The USTA also is considering keeping the men's title match in its traditional Sunday afternoon spot, but moving their semifinals to Friday.

The USTA board of directors has approved exploring various scheduling options.

"We're just getting into this process," Curley said, "and right now, everything is on the table."

The U.S. Open, played at Flushing Meadows in New York, has boasted what it calls "Super Saturday" since 1984, with two men's semifinals and the women's final all played on that day, followed by the men's final Sunday. Wimbledon, the French Open and Australian Open follow another pattern: women's semifinals Thursday, men's semifinals Friday, women's final Saturday, men's final Sunday.

"The sport has become much more physical over the years, to the point where players feel very strongly that they need to have a day between the semis and the final," Curley said. "While the players are an integral part of the U.S. Open, it's one aspect we need to take into consideration, along with onsite fans, TV viewers, corporate sponsors, television partners, both domestic and international. It's a Rubik's Cube, since so many variables need to be taken into consideration."

Changes might result in the loss of one or two sessions during the U.S. Open -- under the present format, tickets are sold for 26 sessions, some during the day, some at night -- and a change in TV rights fees received by the USTA.

"It's fair to say that this type of change would have a negative financial impact on the USTA, and that's another reason why we're being very thoughtful in this process. We're talking about millions of dollars," Curley said.

He acknowledged such losses "would have to have an impact" on any future plans to add a roof to the tournament facility.

CBS has aired the U.S. Open since 1968, and its current contract runs through 2014. CBS Sports spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle confirmed the network has been approached about a change.

"We have an ongoing dialogue with the USTA. They have been great partners, and we will work with them to come up with a schedule that makes sense for all parties," she said.

Curley said he hasn't talked about a potential schedule switch with the International Tennis Federation, which is part of the Grand Slam committee, because "the USTA, not the ITF, runs the U.S. Open."

While calling the scheduling issue a priority for the U.S. Open, Curley said he doesn't know when there will be a final decision. It would need to come by April, at the latest, if there's going to be a change in 2012, when the tournament is supposed to run from Monday, Aug. 27, to Sunday, Sept. 9.

"It might not happen in '12. It might happen in '13. I just want to be clear that the goal is to get this done," Curley said.

In a statement emailed to the AP by his agent, Federer said: "It's good news that they're reviewing the U.S. Open schedule. It's the right move for our sport. I am pleased that the USTA is listening to the players, and I am very encouraged with these developments."


http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id...manent-feature

[CxofxJFm]

I like the idea of a 15th day, but I personally would prefer starting the tournament like the French does (on a Sunday), and finishing on a Sunday. Monday finals would seem to me to be a more difficult sell for television (unless they are also looking at a deal to move the entire thing to cable/PPV).

I appreciate their not wanting to lose Super Saturday (along with Wimbledon's 2nd Monday, the biggest two days on the calendar) however. And if you agree with Roger that the players want that day between the semis and the finals, then going to a Monday final is the only way to keep Super Saturday.

Tough decision, no matter what way you go.

[Evsltkzl]

I'm sure CBS would much rather show NFL football during the Sunday time slot.

[Nosmas]

What's on television on a monday night normally? It seems like TV slots are going to be the real basis of a final decision over other factors.

[FelixQY]

What's on television on a monday night normally? It seems like TV slots are going to be the real basis of a final decision over other factors.

TV Show rerun(How I met your Mother, Two and half Men...) at night but the final will most likely be in the afternoon.

[WaydayFep]

I like the idea of a 15th day, but I personally would prefer starting the tournament like the French does (on a Sunday), and finishing on a Sunday. Monday finals would seem to me to be a more difficult sell for television (unless they are also looking at a deal to move the entire thing to cable/PPV).

I appreciate their not wanting to lose Super Saturday (along with Wimbledon's 2nd Monday, the biggest two days on the calendar) however. And if you agree with Roger that the players want that day between the semis and the finals, then going to a Monday final is the only way to keep Super Saturday.

Tough decision, no matter what way you go.

Agreed. A Monday final is stupid. There's a reason no tournament in the world voluntarily has one. Why wouldn't they want to up attendance revenue by having a Sunday start?

[Intockatt]

Also, if they switch to a Monday final, then it will just rain an extra day and force a Tuesday final. Just pony up for a ****ing roof already, USTA, instead of thinking of ways to profit on weather phenomena.

[CxofxJFm]

ATP World Tour Opposed to Plans to Extend U.S. Open Tennis to Fifteen Days
By Danielle Rossingh - Oct 21, 2011 7:28 AM ET .

The ATP World Tour, the governing body of men’s tennis, is opposed to extending the U.S. Open to fifteen days, Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant said.

The tournament, held at Flushing Meadows in New York, has staged a Monday men’s singles final for the past four years because of bad weather. This year, players including second- ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain and third-ranked Andy Murray of Britain complained about the event’s scheduling, including back- to-back semifinals and finals without a day off.

The U.S. Tennis Association, which organizes the U.S. Open, may become the first Grand Slam tournament to add one day to its schedule and switch permanently to a Monday finish in order to give both the men and women a day off between the last four and the title match, it said on its website this week.

“We are pleased the U.S.T.A. is addressing as a priority the players’ concerns about scheduling the U.S. Open men’s semi- finals and finals on consecutive days,” Helfant said in an e- mailed statement to Bloomberg News.

“However, we don’t necessarily see how the right solution would be expanding the tournament to fifteen days. We continue to have very open conversations with the U.S.T.A. about this.”

The semifinals of the Davis Cup, the elite men’s team event, are held the weekend after the U.S. Open, giving the players who make the finals in New York less time to recover and prepare if they played the title match on a Monday.

Djokovic was forced to retire in his Davis Cup singles match five days after winning in New York because of the recurrence of a lower-back injury he had also struggled with at the Open.

The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam event that schedules the semifinals and finals on consecutive days. Its “Super Saturday” format of two men’s semifinals and the women’s finals played on one day, followed by a men’s final on the Sunday, has been in existence since 1984.

The Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon all schedule a day off in between the semifinals and finals. Wimbledon is the only major with a rest day in the middle of the tournament, which is played over 13 days at the All England Club. The Australian Open is played over 14 days, while the French Open takes 15 days because of a Sunday start.

[addisonnicogel]

Why the ATP is opposed in giving USO 15 days but the French Open currently does

[FelixQY]

They were probably opposed to it too but it is solely the USTA decision to make.

[sEe]

Instead of Monday final, there should be a Sunday start and I think they need to scrap that Wednesday first match crap they do with the men because if it's going to rain (which it always does) it's going to continue to mess up the OOP.

[jeraveike]

If they do have a Monday final, it needs to be Monday night. I've been very frustrated at the last few Monday finals at an awkward time in the workday.

I think the players need to be heard and they need to give them an extra day. 5 set tennis is tough.

I agree with most others that starting on Sunday is probably a smarter solution.