The ATP has issued a statement through its official Web explaining the new changes that they will have with the sole purpose of helping players and tournaments in these critical moments that they are going through due to the coronavirus.
– Increase in prize money in ATP 250 and ATP 500 tournaments and creation of a bonus fund: The ATP has made it official that between the Australian Open and Wimbledon, the prize money of the ATP 250 and ATP 500 tournaments will be increased by 80 and 60%, respectively. This increase will become a reality thanks to the creation of an ATP Bonus Fund, normally distributed among the twelve best players from last season. The creation of this fund has been approved by the Players Council, headed by illustrious tennis players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray, among others.
– New scoring system in the ranking: Diego Schwartzman already confirmed a few days ago that the ATP was studying a new scoring model and today it has become a reality. The ATP has extended the “Best of” system until the week of August 9, 2021. The results of all tournaments that were played from March 4 to August 5, 2019 and that were not played in 2020, will be maintained for another 52 weeks and will have 50%. We are going to put an example. A tennis player will be able to count 50% of his results in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 2019 or 100% of his result in this year’s tournament. The player will keep his best result. This model will run until the 2021 Cincinnati Masters 1000.
– Ranking protected because of COVID-19: Tennis players who have been out of competition for four consecutive weeks will be able to benefit from this new protected ranking. This measure has been created in order to give players a little more flexibility when creating their roadmap.
– Tennis players will have the possibility of having more people on their staff in tournaments: The ATP has confessed that it is working side by side with tournaments to be able to increase the number of people who can accompany tennis players in tournaments, offering players these additional places on request. Until now, there was only the possibility of taking two members of his staff to tournaments due to the existing protocols in the circuit.
– Financial assistance during isolation due to COVID-19: The ATP will allocate ten thousand dollars to each ATP and Challenger tournament to cover hotel costs in periods of quarantine or preventive isolation for having tested positive or having had close contact with an affected person.
What do you think about these changes? Are you for or against?
– .
