Novak Djokovic Considers Rome And Madrid Expanding To 10-Day Events

Written by: Staff on 15th May 2013

Novak Djokovic Considers Rome And Madrid Expanding To 10-Day Events |

Novak Djokovic is not against selected expansion of some ATP events, but the Serb has his doubts about hopes of the Rome and Madrid joint ATP-WTA events to expand to 10-days apiece and duplicate the American Indian Wells-Miami March hardcourt double.

Tournament bosses have been the biggest cheerleaders of the proposal, while players have kept mainly silent. Now, world No. 1 Djokovic is speaking his mind while straddling the fence on the issue.

“I’m convinced that there is room for improvement in the schedule and we can do it … tennis is such a global sport and we should use that potential,” said the Serb who is bidding for a third Rome title. “Sometimes there is too much of a conservative approach in the sport and longstanding tradition. We nurture tradition, but time is changing and we have to make changes.

“The tennis market is growing and the sport is going in the right direction. Players in men’s tennis are more united than before.”

While not playing favorites, Djokovic would surely favor the Rome effort, a city where the Italian-speaker is loved by the public, as opposed to Madrid where he is consistently jeered. “They (Madrid, Rome) are both big tournaments and the majority of the top players live in Europe and so you want to spend more time around here.

“It’s complicated because the schedule is structured in a certain way which has been respected for many years. Changing it means sacrifice. If you change (one) another tournament someone suffers.”

While Madrid and Rome like to be compared, there are huge difference in the ATP-WTA events in the two Latin capitals. The Madrid clay, at 800 meters, plays nothing like the sea-level courts in Rome and Paris for the French Open. Madrid has a roof over its Santana show court; Rome does not.

Madrid also has organization facilities to probably make a ten-day event happen, while Rome might struggle amid its chronic chaos and a decided lack of physical space at the hemmed-in Foro Italico.

Topics: Atp, Madrid Masters, Novak Djokovic, Rome Masters, Sports, Tennis News, Wta