FROM THE CHAMPIONS CUP IN BOSTON – Jim Courier
made a good point on Wednesday in the lead-up press conference to the
Champions Cup at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. The four-time
Slam champ believes that one of the primary reasons for the on-going
thought that tennis isn’t popular in the US is because there aren’t
as many pro tournaments as their once were and, as a result, the
sport isn’t part of day-in, day out conversations in the American
athletic universe.
“The game is still very healthy at core,” said Courier, who
both runs and plays on the Outback Champions Series. “What we
miss is media coverage and that helps it get to a larger demographic.
When you have rivalries, particularly an American with a lot of charisma
like a McEnroe or Connors versus an Iceman like Borg, you have what
a sport like tennis or boxing needs, a true charismatic rivalry
where a fan is forced to say, ‘That’s my guy or that’s
my girl.’
We don’t have that with Federer vs. Nadal because American fans
are too myopic to look outside of our own box. They don’t care
about international superstars, only about their own. It’s an
epidemic in America, but doesn’t represent what’s going
in world of tennis globally, which is strong. Ticket sales are strong
in America as well. But there is a perception that you have to respect
as a reality as well that tennis is not as popular now. But if you
drill down on it, ticket sales are good and TV ratings are bad, so
there is a reality there.”
Perception can be reality and, as long as there is a large percentage
of the sporting public that ignores the sport and believes that others
are ignoring the sport because it’s not interesting enough, then
US tennis will continue to struggle. As Courier said, there are positive
signs. Ball sales are up, ticket sales are up, and racket sales are
doing okay. In perhaps the best piece of regional news I’ve heard
in some time, the historic San Francisco Tennis Club was saved from
condo developers last month largely because a substantial group of tennis
activists got together and convinced the city that it would be an awful
move for recreational sports in the area. For those of you who live
in large cities, you are well aware of how few courts exist in major
metropolitan areas anymore and can certainly understand how important
this victory was.
Courier and his partner at Inside Out Sports, Jon Venison, have had a
substantial victory, too. In just two years time, they have pushed the
Outback Champions Series into the US tennis landscape, where it is sorely
needed. Courier is correct in saying that because the pro game has become
so international that it will never again expand exponentially in the
US, especially now when all the ATP and WTA talk is centered around
cutting back on tournaments. But the US does need more tournaments with
marquee players and adding more Challengers and Futures full of unknown
players isn’t going to cut it. But the "senior" men
could play a huge roll.
BEANTOWN NEEDS SOME YELLOW BALL
Just look at Boston, one of America’s most
revered cities and one that has a tremendous tennis tradition. It does
not have an ATP or WTA event, although it does host a World TeamTennis
squad, the Lobsters. It’s
precisely the type of city that can support the sport and where tennis
needs to be part of the conversation if it is to flourish. The Outback
Champions Series could fill a major void, because a lot of big names
are here – Courier, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander,
Pat Cash, Todd Martin, Petr Korda and Wayne Ferreira – and they
can all still play at a very respectable level. Obviously, they can’t
touch the likes of Federer and Nadal anymore, but they play better than
many guys in the Top 1,000 and better than most, if not all, of the
women. Combine that level with some attractive personalities interacting
with fans and there is a huge opportunity.
That does not mean that senior tennis in the US is a slam dunk. As
Connors and Ray Benton found out at the end of their somewhat successful
run in the seniors, once the name players start to decline and you
can’t
find enough other name players to step in, it’s a much tougher
sell, because once a guy reaches age 50, it’s not always pretty
to see him scamper after balls. That’s because said player can’t
exactly scamper, he slogs after cross-court forays. Senior tennis is
not senior golf, where guys can play into their 60s because they never
have to run. Unless Courier changes the format and moves more into doubles,
some of the guys now playing senior tennis will have to exit.
McEnroe just turned 48, keeps in great shape and is still the biggest
draw on both the BlackRock Tour in Europe and on the Outback Champions
Series. But he can’t be too long for either tour and the new guys
will have to step up and continue to entertain. In the US, Courier and
Sampras and Michael Chang can bring in solid crowds, and, hopefully,
the wildly popular Andre Agassi will join them in two years time when
Johnny Mac exits. Cash is said to be playing at a pretty high level,
as is Wilander, but it can’t be easy facing guys who are seven
and eight years younger on a consistent basis. When you’re in
your late 20s or early 30s and still in or near your athletic prime,
it’s one thing to take
on a younger guy. But, once you hit your 40s, your body begins to revolt
and it’s more difficult.
Courier and Venison have taken things slowly and this year they will
host six tournaments in the US and one in Greece. Six may not be enough
for sports editors to see it as a “real” tour, so next year,
they might be smart to add another two tournaments. Nonetheless, getting
Sampras to commit to at least three tournaments this year is a real
coup. His presence alone in Boston brought out a fair amount of media
outlets, which indicates that there’s still significant interest
in the all-time great.
Now we’ll see how Sampras matches up in his first regular senior
tournament since he retired in 2002. He said he held his own against Federer
back in March at his house and thoroughly enjoyed the experience
“Twenty-four majors on court was pretty cool,” he said. “I
was very competitive and it’s nice to know that I can still hold
my serve against the best guy in the world. He’s down to earth
and funny, and like me, reserved and business like on court, but off
court, he’s pretty funny and has a dry sense of humor.”
For more on Sampras, Courier and Martin’s feelings about the lack
of great players chasing Federer and Nadal, read my column on foxsports.com/tennis.
On Thursday after Sampras faces Korda, I’ll give you a better feel
as to how he’s playing and also take a look at McEnroe.
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