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| At Tennis Oasis, a Storm Is Brewing | At Tennis Oasis, a Storm Is Brewing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MELBOURNE, Australia — A year ago, at their annual meeting in Melbourne, the leading men’s tennis players were angrily discussing the possibility of boycotting the Australian Open. | MELBOURNE, Australia — A year ago, at their annual meeting in Melbourne, the leading men’s tennis players were angrily discussing the possibility of boycotting the Australian Open. |
| At this year’s meeting, Craig Tiley, the tournament director, and Steve Wood, Tennis Australia’s chief executive, received a standing ovation. | At this year’s meeting, Craig Tiley, the tournament director, and Steve Wood, Tennis Australia’s chief executive, received a standing ovation. |
| “That was a level of appreciation I’ve never seen before from the players toward a Grand Slam,” said Justin Gimelstob, a player representative on the ATP’s board of directors. “You can argue the how and why, but right now, as of this date, this is the only place where the players feel like they are truly heard.” | “That was a level of appreciation I’ve never seen before from the players toward a Grand Slam,” said Justin Gimelstob, a player representative on the ATP’s board of directors. “You can argue the how and why, but right now, as of this date, this is the only place where the players feel like they are truly heard.” |
| Melbourne Park, the site of the Australian Open since 1988, is in the midst of its latest growth spurt. It will soon have a third stadium with a retractable roof. Wimbledon has one, and the United States Open and the French Open have none. | Melbourne Park, the site of the Australian Open since 1988, is in the midst of its latest growth spurt. It will soon have a third stadium with a retractable roof. Wimbledon has one, and the United States Open and the French Open have none. |
| Chris Evert, a two-time Australian Open champion who reached the final in 1988, returned for the first time last year. | Chris Evert, a two-time Australian Open champion who reached the final in 1988, returned for the first time last year. |
| “I was kind of blown away,” she said of the site’s transformation. | “I was kind of blown away,” she said of the site’s transformation. |
| A new national tennis center with eight indoor hard courts, five outdoor hard courts and eight red clay courts opened last year at the eastern edge of Melbourne Park. It features plunge pools for recovery, an extensive weight room and fitness area and, this week, a number of positive user reviews. | A new national tennis center with eight indoor hard courts, five outdoor hard courts and eight red clay courts opened last year at the eastern edge of Melbourne Park. It features plunge pools for recovery, an extensive weight room and fitness area and, this week, a number of positive user reviews. |
| “This is the best facility of its kind at any of the Grand Slams,” Nicolas Mahut, a French player, said Tuesday. “The Australian Open is first. Wimbledon is second and then the rest.” | “This is the best facility of its kind at any of the Grand Slams,” Nicolas Mahut, a French player, said Tuesday. “The Australian Open is first. Wimbledon is second and then the rest.” |
| The Australians, unlike expansion-minded United States Open officials, have the advantage of full public financing. The local Victorian government has committed $386 million to this initial redevelopment project with more work in the planning phase, all of which underscores the fact that the Australian Open, once by far the least prestigious Grand Slam tournament, continues to gain prestige and clout. | The Australians, unlike expansion-minded United States Open officials, have the advantage of full public financing. The local Victorian government has committed $386 million to this initial redevelopment project with more work in the planning phase, all of which underscores the fact that the Australian Open, once by far the least prestigious Grand Slam tournament, continues to gain prestige and clout. |
| Its officials also have been the most openly supportive of the men’s players’ demands for a greater percentage of Grand Slam revenue and more input in decision-making. After consultation with the tours, the tournament has committed much of its 2013 increase in prize money to the early-round losers. | |
| “I said to the players at the meeting: ‘Why are we doing this? Why are we being aggressive with prize money?’ ” Tiley said. “And I said: ‘I’m looking at you all in the eye right now. It’s because of your careers. Some of you in this room are making a good living, and a lot of you in this room and every one of you who is not in this room are not making a living.’ So I said, ‘We will make a promise to you that we will do our part in changing that.’ ” | “I said to the players at the meeting: ‘Why are we doing this? Why are we being aggressive with prize money?’ ” Tiley said. “And I said: ‘I’m looking at you all in the eye right now. It’s because of your careers. Some of you in this room are making a good living, and a lot of you in this room and every one of you who is not in this room are not making a living.’ So I said, ‘We will make a promise to you that we will do our part in changing that.’ ” |
| The Australian Open increased its prize money by $4 million for this year’s event, and the United States Open announced last month that it also would increase total prize money by $4 million for 2013. The French Open and Wimbledon have yet to announce their purses. | The Australian Open increased its prize money by $4 million for this year’s event, and the United States Open announced last month that it also would increase total prize money by $4 million for 2013. The French Open and Wimbledon have yet to announce their purses. |
| But while the players applauded the Australian Open’s leadership, many remain dissatisfied with the United States Open’s announced plans in part because they were packaged with a 15th day of play in the form of a Monday men’s final. | But while the players applauded the Australian Open’s leadership, many remain dissatisfied with the United States Open’s announced plans in part because they were packaged with a 15th day of play in the form of a Monday men’s final. |
| The United States Open has finished on a Monday the past five years because of rain, but several leading players, above all Roger Federer, had made it clear that they were against an official Monday finish. | The United States Open has finished on a Monday the past five years because of rain, but several leading players, above all Roger Federer, had made it clear that they were against an official Monday finish. |
| “Even without the Monday final, it still would have been disappointing, that amount of money,” Gimelstob said. | “Even without the Monday final, it still would have been disappointing, that amount of money,” Gimelstob said. |
| United States Open officials argue that their approach is generous and temporary. Gordon Smith, the United States Tennis Association executive director, said by telephone that the tournament found itself in a financial predicament this year. | United States Open officials argue that their approach is generous and temporary. Gordon Smith, the United States Tennis Association executive director, said by telephone that the tournament found itself in a financial predicament this year. |
| The tournament was committed to scheduling a day of rest between the men’s semifinals and final. To do so, it needed not only to alter its long-established schedule but to renegotiate its existing agreement with CBS, which runs through 2014. | The tournament was committed to scheduling a day of rest between the men’s semifinals and final. To do so, it needed not only to alter its long-established schedule but to renegotiate its existing agreement with CBS, which runs through 2014. |
| According to Smith, the cost to the tournament in 2013 for switching the men’s semifinals to Friday and keeping the final in its Sunday slot would have been about $10 million, while the cost of keeping the men’s semifinals on Saturday and scheduling the final on Monday was considerably less, at $1.5 million. Switching the semifinals to Friday would have required a loss of two ticketed sessions. | According to Smith, the cost to the tournament in 2013 for switching the men’s semifinals to Friday and keeping the final in its Sunday slot would have been about $10 million, while the cost of keeping the men’s semifinals on Saturday and scheduling the final on Monday was considerably less, at $1.5 million. Switching the semifinals to Friday would have required a loss of two ticketed sessions. |
| “I have great respect for the players,” Smith said. “But I don’t think it’s reasonable to say, ‘Increase your prize money by millions of dollars and take a $10 million hit to give us a day of rest.’ ” | “I have great respect for the players,” Smith said. “But I don’t think it’s reasonable to say, ‘Increase your prize money by millions of dollars and take a $10 million hit to give us a day of rest.’ ” |
| Smith said a $10 million shortfall would have forced the U.S.T.A. to cut numerous jobs and programs and financing for more than 90 minor league professional events. | Smith said a $10 million shortfall would have forced the U.S.T.A. to cut numerous jobs and programs and financing for more than 90 minor league professional events. |
| “We’ve only committed to this Monday final for one year,” said Smith, who added that the Open would not consider starting on a Sunday as the French Open does. “We are in the midst of renegotiating our television rights agreements in this calendar year, and it is our preference moving forward to negotiate a rights deal that will, one, allow us to have a Sunday final and, two, will be a deal that will allow us to continue to increase prize money. That’s our perfect world.” | “We’ve only committed to this Monday final for one year,” said Smith, who added that the Open would not consider starting on a Sunday as the French Open does. “We are in the midst of renegotiating our television rights agreements in this calendar year, and it is our preference moving forward to negotiate a rights deal that will, one, allow us to have a Sunday final and, two, will be a deal that will allow us to continue to increase prize money. That’s our perfect world.” |
| It is unclear whether further negotiations with the ATP will be affected by the announcement Tuesday by its chief executive, Brad Drewett, that he would soon be stepping down because he has been diagnosed with A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Drewett has been one of the principal negotiators for the players, as has Federer, who is the president of the ATP Player Council. | It is unclear whether further negotiations with the ATP will be affected by the announcement Tuesday by its chief executive, Brad Drewett, that he would soon be stepping down because he has been diagnosed with A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Drewett has been one of the principal negotiators for the players, as has Federer, who is the president of the ATP Player Council. |
| Federer and the other players know that their leverage is currently strong, with the men’s game in a particularly attractive phase and its stars unified and engaged. | Federer and the other players know that their leverage is currently strong, with the men’s game in a particularly attractive phase and its stars unified and engaged. |
| The negotiations have been about prize money but also about a philosophical approach, with Smith and other Grand Slam leaders arguing that they have an obligation to finance the game at the grass-roots level in their countries and to finance lower-level pro circuits. | The negotiations have been about prize money but also about a philosophical approach, with Smith and other Grand Slam leaders arguing that they have an obligation to finance the game at the grass-roots level in their countries and to finance lower-level pro circuits. |
| The players, while recognizing that obligation, maintain that this should not keep the U.S.T.A. and the other Grand Slam leaders from rewarding their players at a rate similar to the rate in regular ATP events. Some players also question why their star power should be used, indirectly, to help finance player development in the Grand Slam countries, putting their own nations at a competitive disadvantage. | The players, while recognizing that obligation, maintain that this should not keep the U.S.T.A. and the other Grand Slam leaders from rewarding their players at a rate similar to the rate in regular ATP events. Some players also question why their star power should be used, indirectly, to help finance player development in the Grand Slam countries, putting their own nations at a competitive disadvantage. |
| In general, the percentage of gross revenue devoted to prize money at ATP events ranges from 20 to 30 percent. Estimated revenue for the Australian Open this year is about $150 million, and about $200 million for the French Open. At Wimbledon, where revenue is difficult to estimate because the event is run by a private club, it is believed to be in excess of $200 million. The United States Open produces about $250 million. | In general, the percentage of gross revenue devoted to prize money at ATP events ranges from 20 to 30 percent. Estimated revenue for the Australian Open this year is about $150 million, and about $200 million for the French Open. At Wimbledon, where revenue is difficult to estimate because the event is run by a private club, it is believed to be in excess of $200 million. The United States Open produces about $250 million. |
| Tiley said that with the favorable exchange rate, the Australian Open will pay out about $31 million dollars — a record — in combined men’s and women’s prize money this year, which would put it close to the 20 percent mark. The Australian Open also provided an extra $1,000 to all players, including those in the qualifying, to help with expenses. | Tiley said that with the favorable exchange rate, the Australian Open will pay out about $31 million dollars — a record — in combined men’s and women’s prize money this year, which would put it close to the 20 percent mark. The Australian Open also provided an extra $1,000 to all players, including those in the qualifying, to help with expenses. |
| The United States Open, which will pay $30 million — up $6 million from 2011 — is still at about 12 percent of gross revenue. | The United States Open, which will pay $30 million — up $6 million from 2011 — is still at about 12 percent of gross revenue. |
| Smith said that he told the players that the U.S.T.A. would commit to increasing singles prize money by “75 percent minimum” from 2012 to 2017. | Smith said that he told the players that the U.S.T.A. would commit to increasing singles prize money by “75 percent minimum” from 2012 to 2017. |
| “Our point that we want to make is that we are addressing their concerns in a proactive and a substantial way, but we are the biggest tennis market in the world still,” Smith said. “We need to make sure we promote the game in this country so that the game remains popular, people play it, people are fans, and people are interested in it.” | “Our point that we want to make is that we are addressing their concerns in a proactive and a substantial way, but we are the biggest tennis market in the world still,” Smith said. “We need to make sure we promote the game in this country so that the game remains popular, people play it, people are fans, and people are interested in it.” |
| Gimelstob expressed doubt that the players would accept the announced prize-money proposal and schedule without a fight, even if the U.S.T.A. tried to emphasize that it was only a one-year solution. | Gimelstob expressed doubt that the players would accept the announced prize-money proposal and schedule without a fight, even if the U.S.T.A. tried to emphasize that it was only a one-year solution. |
| “I love the U.S. Open, but if the U.S.T.A. truly believes they can wait it out and hope they can weather the storm this year, there could be catastrophic consequences for both sides, and that is what I truly hope doesn’t happen,” he said. | “I love the U.S. Open, but if the U.S.T.A. truly believes they can wait it out and hope they can weather the storm this year, there could be catastrophic consequences for both sides, and that is what I truly hope doesn’t happen,” he said. |