USO makes it official Monday Mens final Sunday womens final

[Scotty]

well, both the ATP and WTA support whatever regular tour event(s) happens the weeks outside the majors and Davis Cup/Fed Cup. The women's USO final is only being moved to Sunday, so it won't affect any tournament the following week (not that I expect any USO finalists to have entered Quebec City or Tashkent). Whereas the men's final did get moved into the following week.

However, in 2013, the week after the USO on the men's side is ... Davis Cup. So perhaps the ATP is largely ratting a saber, so other majors don't try the same thing?

I'll add my name to the list that says USO should try starting one day earlier (Sunday), ESPECIALLY if they insist on dragging first-round matches over 3 days. I'm guessing CBS vetoed that: they would rather show pre-season football that Sunday, and they don't mind going up against Monday Night Football, since that's on another network.

[Moose]

L. Jon raises an interesting point regarding the USTA only committing to a one-year experiment with the change to Monday:

e) All this goes to Hades when the TV contract comes due -- which is 2014, but we know these contracts can be broken early. I'm told ESPN may take over under a "first ball to last ball" marketing plan. In that case the men's final won't be Monday, as ESPN of course has rights to Monday Night Football and won't cannibalize prime programming. It might move to a Wimbledon-style format whereby the Super Saturday dies and it simply becomes the day of the women's final. The other possibility I hear: Fox takes over the network contract and is more amenable to a men's final in Monday prime time

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ten...#ixzz2FWfYVjYn

So, having said goodbye to USA, I wonder if we are now facing CBS's exit from coverage as well?

[Ti-Amie]

So, having said goodbye to USA, I wonder if we are now facing CBS's exit from coverage as well?

And the bad thing about that is...?

[Moose]

And the bad thing about that is...?

Putting aside Ms. Austin, I think, in retrospect, USA's coverage was better than ESPN. You had a consistent start time on the same channel nightly.

CBS, if not spectacular, has been solid. I guess it is more a matter of the devil you know. ESPN does make it challenging at times to follow coverage, and I think their studio show is lacking at times.

[Ti-Amie]

Hands down USA network had the best tennis coverage. You knew when it came on, you saw every interesting match and not just because a star was playing. They managed to get cameras to the outer courts before they were covered by network cameras.

For me ESPN is too star driven. They'll stick with a one sided match A. If an American is playing. B. If a player is repped by IMG and/or trains in Florida. C. A favorite of someone in the booth especially if someone in the booth has had a hand in training said individual.

The big problem with CBS is that it will allot, say three hours for two matches. If that doesn't work then fans are s.o.l.

USA has gone on to other things and I hate the idea of Fox getting its mitts on more sports but their NFL coverage is very good. If a game sucks they switch you to a competitive one.

I don't think we've talked much about it here but in Europe the WTA will only be on Eurosport for the Slams. Otherwise WTA matches will be on some other network. How this will affect the live streams fans rely on is yet to be seen. Fans on other boards are beside themselves about it. So while we whine I guess it could be worse.

[Kirkus]

Call me Mr. negative, but I think this move sucks. And it doesn't make sense from a TV point of view. people are at work on Monday. Unless it will be a night match, in which case it goes up against Monday Night Football. I really don't understand this as opposed to a Sunday start.

I'll go a step further and say that if this move was due to pressure from the ATP players, well... with the trillion-gazillion dollars those in the semis and finals are taking home, they can shut up, put their big-boy pants on, and serve the ball already.

[Ti-Amie]

Call me Mr. negative, but I think this move sucks. And it doesn't make sense from a TV point of view. people are at work on Monday. Unless it will be a night match, in which case it goes up against Monday Night Football. I really don't understand this as opposed to a Sunday start.

I'll go a step further and say that if this move was due to pressure from the ATP players, well... with the trillion-gazillion dollars those in the semis and finals are taking home, they can shut up, put their big-boy pants on, and serve the ball already.

The ATP is vehemently against the Monday Final and isn't too impressed with the increase in prize money either. It also says its players were not consulted.

I think Moose posted the ATP statement upthread.

[Kirkus]

Weren't some of the male players complaining about the Saturday/Sunday finish?