Speaking in London, ATP chief Adam Helfant has said that he expects the ATP Board of Directors to approve a reduction of up to three weeks in the men’s calendar starting in 2012.
“I do believe the board will take action on this,” Helfant said. "There is a two-week (reduction) and a three-week option on the table—and in theory no reduction at all, but I would be very surprised if that's where we ended up. Each of the players have their own views on what would be an ideal calendar and we are never going to have unanimity; it's hard enough to build a consensus. But I think we will emerge from the board meetings with a consensus that balances the needs of the players and the tournaments."
However, at the most recent meeting of the tournament directors of the ATP 250-level events (there are 41 250-level tournaments on the calendar), a working group stated: “We must use all our influence and efforts to limit the shortening of the season to two weeks.”
The board will meet in London over three days starting November 20. It’s possible that the ATP will vote to cut the week in between Bercy Masters in Paris and London.
Player Council members Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been called for a reduction in the calendar, as have Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic. However, Djokovic’s father Goran, who is the tournament director in Belgrade, is a member of the ATP 250 working group.
That group has also requested that the players compete in at least one 250 event in the second half of the year, even if a player has already won three 250s and under the current ranking structure couldn’t count the result. The group is asking the ATP to split the season and have at least one 250 result to count after Wimbledon. It’s also requesting that 250s be allowed a fourth wildcard and not have to offer hospitality to qualifiers with a ranking above 500.—Matthew Cronin