Round Robin Format rings in New Year
First off, Happy New Year to everyone, although I am not sure it is so happy for the competitors taking part in one of the year’s first tournaments in Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide is the first tournament to use the Round Robin Format in an ATP event, which will be used as a sort of experiment throughout 2007. Unfortunately, for players and fans alike, it has to be one of the more confusing formats I have ever encountered. For college football fans, I understand the BCS more than I understand the format in Adelaide. I will spare you the details, mainly because I don’t think I can accurately describe them, but here is a link to the tournament site. In a nutshell, the tournament goes like this 1. Qualifying Draw 2. Main Draw Single Elimination 3. Round Robin with three players in each group 4. Single Elimination Final Rounds. Ok, so it might not be as complicated as the BCS, but there is definitely a simpler way- I should know, I played in many Round Robin events in my heyday (12 and unders, B Division).
There are a couple of other drawbacks to the Round Robin format. I think it affects both top ranked and lower ranked players negatively. I realize that nobody likes to think about losing a match, but hypothetically pretend you are a top 10 player and are competing in a Grand Slam warm up event. Would you rather lose in a regular draw, where at least you get the rest of the week off to rest up for the Grand Slam, or would you like to lose in a Round Robin, where you would have the distinct possibility of playing one or more meaningless matches. Personally, and I think most other people would agree, would choose the former. For lower ranked players, round robins make it exceedingly harder to advance in a tournament and earn valuable points and money. In a regular tournament, an up and comer like Frank Dancevic upsetting Tommy Robredo in the first round would be huge win, but in a round robin he could very well lose his next match and fail to advance.
Now, I realize that there are plenty of arguments in favor of Round Robin, probably the best one being that tournament officials know that top players will be around at least a few days even if they get upset, but I still think Round Robins do not fit into tennis, and I hope they will fade away just like the BCS system will after this year (a man can dream right?)
A few interesting links:
Some fun facts about Roger Federer.
Bad news for Mark Philippoussis to start off the new year.
This week’s results for the first set of tournaments for 2007.
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I am not a fan of this new idea, first of all if a guy really doesnt want to be in a tournament, whats to stop him from tanking two matches instead of one (talking about a guy like Safin), does anyone really want to see him around for a few more matches if he is disinterested as he often times can be? Secondly, I think the tour needs to realize that they are never going to be a main stream event anymore, and they should focus on keeping their “main” fan base satisfied and I think something like this will only hurt that. Tennis is supposed to be about if you win then you move on, not well so and so won more games and a higher percentage of break points so he moves on to the quarters (obviously Im slightly exagerrating). Thirdly, I didnt realize this was such a huge problem that top name guys are going out too early in events? Last time I checked there really arent that many top players anymore I have to see play, and guys like Federer and Nadal etc… are often in the semi’s or final’s of the tourneys they enter, so i dont see how anyone is really missing out all that much. And finally, this format could lead to the top guys playing all the time and for me I dont think i’d like that, what made Agassi v. Sampras so great, was that it didnt happen every week, so when it did it was something special and really added hype and publicity to the sport, If Federer and Nadal play against one another every tournament they enter, is that really good for tennis? Besides eventually every frickin tournament will be on the Tennis Channel, which nobody gets, and therefore all this will be moot, bc we’ll never get to see tennis anyways, but i digress…
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
A little more food for thought from your blogmaster with regards to Round Robins…just read this on the tennis.com ticker “Joachim Johansson will be in the quarterfinals of Adelaide if Gilles Simon defeats Florent Serra in their round-robin match. So, he quipped in his ATP blog, he’ll watch to “‘make sure Simon will do his best to beat his doubles partner and friend, even though he has no chance to reach the quarterfinal’”
January 4th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Just to play a little devils advocate… I think we all agree tennis needs more TV and media coverage. The more the better. One of the things this format does do is allow for more time to promote a certain matchup. In the NFL, NHL, MLB you will see promo pieces on certain matchups for weeks. Hyping the game, giving sound bites from the coaches, listening to TO talk trash about the Giants defense or a coach talking about his teams chances next week… Plenty of time to build drama. In tennis you don’t know who is playing in most cases until 12 hours before the match (unless they have a day off and even then there is only a day and a half) hard to build momentum for media stories and coverage in such a short period of time. Most tennis people are talking about Nadal and Federer playing in the Australian Open because they are the two biggest draws, well the chances of them playing are way less than 50%. In the round Robin format you could make sure they play and know what day and time they are playing. This would make it easier for potential sponsors and TV partners to lay down the loot knowing there will be a big matchup and some hype… Jez by the way Simon beat his friend and doubles partner Serra… And did not advance. Kind of interesting drama we are talking about. Which would not exist in the normal “old school” format.
January 5th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
You maybe making a valid point here Andrew…..except, Nadal would never be in Federer’s Round Robin Bracket, they would only be able to meet in the finals, i am assuming…And if they could meet in the Round Robin, I dont see how that would be good for the sport with them playing a silly round robin match against one another and then bc of it, one of them being eliminated from the tournament. I dont know the formatting all that well, but just a thought…
January 6th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I agree with Andrew that interesting hype can definetly be created by the round robin format. I also believe that like now with the edererV. Nadal rivalry that hype is created by rivalries and general excitement. that excitement like in (the 80’s when tennis was at its peak popularity wise) is fuled by personalities. Most players who compete because of the grind of the tour don’t show that enthusiasm and passion pouring out of their pores like when Mcenroe played lendl in the WCT tournies or any other time for that matter. Or Mc and Connors wanting to murder each other during matches that was really the epitomy of tennis excitement. Now a days there are somany more oppurtunities to make money via marketing and general increase of spnsors and prize many there could be acertain level of complacency being there. I am not saying Mc an Connors went hungry but it was just different that’s all. So unless the round robin can magically crete those kinds of dynamics, energy, and the true element of surprise( i.e. who will snap today and who will fight for every ball and not know the definition of the word tank) then I only like it for the year-end championships. Top 8 in the world who battled and grinded all year to get points to be there. Then, the round-robin is justifiable its not like you don’t have to be elite to earn that place in the tournament, you have to be SICK!!!! Anyother tourney, forget about it… You lose you pack your crap or play doubs, either way you are out.. I am ol school in some respects and some traditions in tennis i love. One and out baby don’t get all up in my kitchen if you can’t bring it that day-whoever’s got the goods that day that is it. Round Robin is however, wonderful format for young juniors 10’s and under sometimes 12, and up as well depends on the level. we already have backdraws in big national junior tournaments,(which is great) do the pros need a backdraw too? MOS DEF NOT. Scratch the Round Robin save it for year-end Peace
January 6th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Sorry I misspelled Federer i should be banned from working in or commenting on tennis!! Helen, Ellen???