GogoGirl
Oct 11th, 2002, 11:24 PM
I saw this last week. Does this mean the WTA wil follow suit - I wonder?
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021011/ap_wo_en_po/sports_tennis_atp_doubles_1
ATP reduces prize money, draw sizes for doubles
Fri Oct 11, 5:58 AM ET
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Prize money for doubles events will decrease at next season's ATP tournaments and draw sizes will be reduced, the governing body of men's tennis announced
Masters Series tournaments will now allocate only 17 percent of their total prize money to doubles teams — a five-percent decrease - while all other events will pay out 20 percent to pairs, down from 25 percent in the 2002 season, the ATP said in a statement.
Draw sizes will be reduced to "allow flexibility in scheduling matches" and more players will be accepted directly in doubles competitions based on their singles rankings, the ATP said.
These changes will ensure that top singles players, who play doubles rarely and don't have high doubles rankings, will be able to contest doubles.
"The ATP Board felt that the current system of prize money payments was outdated and needed to better reflect the business appeal of the game, which leans much more heavily today on the singles players," said ATP CEO Mark Miles.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021011/ap_wo_en_po/sports_tennis_atp_doubles_1
ATP reduces prize money, draw sizes for doubles
Fri Oct 11, 5:58 AM ET
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Prize money for doubles events will decrease at next season's ATP tournaments and draw sizes will be reduced, the governing body of men's tennis announced
Masters Series tournaments will now allocate only 17 percent of their total prize money to doubles teams — a five-percent decrease - while all other events will pay out 20 percent to pairs, down from 25 percent in the 2002 season, the ATP said in a statement.
Draw sizes will be reduced to "allow flexibility in scheduling matches" and more players will be accepted directly in doubles competitions based on their singles rankings, the ATP said.
These changes will ensure that top singles players, who play doubles rarely and don't have high doubles rankings, will be able to contest doubles.
"The ATP Board felt that the current system of prize money payments was outdated and needed to better reflect the business appeal of the game, which leans much more heavily today on the singles players," said ATP CEO Mark Miles.