Mrs. Hoppe, congratulations for saying openly what thousands of fans think and had discussed about the whole season. It's normal that the ATP wants to make money, but it's not normal to want to make more and more money on the back of those without whom they could not live : THE PLAYERS ! The players already showed openly their disatifaction in regards of the calendar this year and the ones to come. There were a lot of withdrawals and lot of injuries again this year. At this time of the season, many players are just trying to do their best to finish the season and try to get some well deserve rest. I do hope that the players, with now the 3 top players at the ATP ranking being members of the ATP council, will find people who are willing to sit, listen and discuss. It's for the best of tennis. Otherwise, the ATP will find itself with more and more players who are injured, cannot play, tournaments that are less interesting and, at the end, less spectators. Tennis is more and more becoming "entertennis". Fine, but I hope that those who make the decision at the ATP will know where to draw the line to protect the interest of the players and the ATP itself.

I believe it is okay to have mandatory tournaments for players, as long as the amount of mandatory tournaments is not outrageous. Try imagine that the players are not forced to play in those Masters Series tournaments, do you think an European player like Ferrer would make a trip to US to play Rogers Masters or even Cincinnati Masters? They would be happily staying in Europe to play some clay tournament when its during US Open Series. And look at WTA. They don't have mandatory tournaments for players, and look at their Tier 1 events, its so crappy that Serena Williams and Venus Williams don't even care about them. I'm glad that the Top 4 in men's tennis this year are able to participate in all the 9 Masters Series... and that is what makes ATP more successful than WTA because the players do show up.

Nancy and Loke, thank you for your comments! Loke, this is not about mandatory or no mandatory tournaments. And not about European players who may skip hart courts and US players who may skip clay courts ;-) This about a players’ organization that has stopped listening to players and fans. I am NOT happy that players have to participate in all those tournaments. And look what happened right now in Paris: yes, Top 4 showed up in Paris and - they are all out now, two of them because of injury! And it will go on like this, the season is too long, the players are forced to play too many tournaments. It cannot go on like this, there have to be changes, the players’ health has to be taken care of. And in the long run I am sure I can see more tennis that way and can enjoy players having long careers. And I think that is what all fans like to see. Seeing players evolve over the years and following entire careers is what gets fans interested and fascinated with a sport. So that makes good money and marketing sense, too, establishing long term customer relationships.

Thank you Ms. Hope! That was a wonderful rant at the ATP, and I fully agree with everything you said. I do not understand how how an organization that is supposed to represent the players can be so blind to the players' needs and desires. I also take issue with their "research." While 20,000 sort of sounds like a big number, when they say "worldwide," that makes the number quite small. I'm sure the percentage of worldwide tennis fans that they surveyed is very low. Not good enough statistics to support the changes from a fan standpoint! I truly hope the ATP takes notice of your and other's efforts in this. Best of luck, and keep up the good work!

An excellent letter Cornelia. No other sport has their players running ragged across the globe, changing surfaces as well in a brutally scheduled calendar that lasts the entire year! No wonder tour players are constantly injured. The top two are out in Paris with injuries and the others left playing now have been injured much of the season. James Blake didn't play Davis Cup citing physical and mental exhaustion. (Yes, they even had Davis Cup to crowd into this Olympic year and it is not over yet.) As an avid fan, I hate to see my favorite players' careers and health severely compromised by greed. They have no choice but to play this insane schedule if they want to be at the top. Changes need to be made immediately or the brightest stars in the game will be burnt out and then the tour will really suffer. Add to the schedule the power of the modern game, more and more emphasis on hard court tournaments ( the hardest surface on the body), and the heights of fitness needed to compete. It is just crazy! Save the players! Then you save the sport I love. Suzanne USA

Good letter, good comments. Someone at the ATP needs to open their eyes and look at the injury they are causing. In one ATP article I read, they said this restructuring would improve health of players, yet the most naturual surface, easiest on the body (clay) is being crammed into back to back tournaments. The players are the biggest ATP asset, but they aren't treated that way, it appears to me.

Wonderful article - great comments! I too pray for a European ATP President, someone who shows proper respect for all the tennis, and not just the hard court tournaments. Here in the US, the only thing they really respect is the almighty dollar, and look where that attitude has gotten us (and unfortunately as a result, the rest of the world) today!

I believe it is okay to have mandatory tournaments for players, as long as the amount of mandatory tournaments is not outrageous. Try imagine that the players are not forced to play in those Masters Series tournaments, do you think an European player like Ferrer would make a trip to US to play Rogers Masters or even Cincinnati Masters? They would be happily staying in Europe to play some clay tournament when its during US Open Series. And look at WTA. They don't have mandatory tournaments for players, and look at their Tier 1 events, its so crappy that Serena Williams and Venus Williams don't even care about them. I'm glad that the Top 4 in men's tennis this year are able to participate in all the 9 Masters Series... and that is what makes ATP more successful than WTA because the players do show up.

Regarding "November 2, 2008" comment above: to reiterate, this isn't about European players who may skip hard courts and US players who may skip clay courts ;-) This about a players’ organization that has stopped listening to players and fans.

Kudos on your article. Very well articulated. Morris King, Jr. MAGIAN World Class Tennis www.magian10S.com/mk

I couldn't agree more with this letter! I've often told whoever would listen to me, that not only is the schedule horrible for the players AND the fans, but I would even say that the Grand Slam scheduling is just awful, too! Aussie Open is 140 degrees farenheit, which is beyond unhealthy, and then it's nearly 4 months from the end of that Slam until the next Slam at the French Open! And then that one barely concludes, and 2 weeks later, it's Wimbledon, with a zillion rain delays and no play on Middle Sunday, even if it's sunny and all the other days are rained out! That is simply unacceptable! The Slams should be spaced 2 months apart, and grouped by best weather... The crowds will come, regardless... I've heard arguments that say because Australia Day hits during the Aussie Open, if we ever changed that Slam's dates to have better weather conditions, then no-one will come! That is pure garbage! They of course will, even without it occuring over Australia Day Holidays! To have players be able to play in as decent weather conditions as possible is good for the players, good for the fans (I don't like dying of heat watching!), and good for the sport of tennis! I think the 4 Grand Slams and Indian Wells, Miami, and maybe one or two others should be mandatory, but everything else should be player's choice... After all, if they have a ton of points to defend, they'll probably show up anyway! And if someone is hungry to add a lot of points and move up the rankings, then they'll probably come, but at least it could be a choice and not mandatory, outside of the half-dozen or so I mentioned above... As to the supposed "research" the ATP claims to have done, and "fan surveys" they claim to have conducted, well, I'm with the author of the open letter on these -- Show Us The Evidence!! I am a tennis fan par none, and I have NEVER been asked to participate in a survey! Who were these supposed tens of thousands who participated in said survey? I doubt any, beyond the ATP staff!!! I hope the Open Letter got a response, but the ATP is too selfish to listen, let alone respond to the real people who so love this sport and its amazing players!!!