A new designation pumps up the field at annual D.C. tourney
Revamping the ATP Tour has done nothing to improve the moods of the world’s top tennis professionals. But it has done wonders for the profile of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Recommended Stories
As an ATP World Tour 500 event, the Legg Mason now offers more ranking points to the winner (500 vs. 175) and a larger purse ($1.4 million vs. $600,000). As a result, 14 of the world’s top 25 players will compete next week. Preliminary play begins Saturday at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park.
“This is as strong a field as we’ve had since I’ve been involved,” said Jeff Newman, tournament director since 1995. “In the past we’ve had the top players at center court. Now we’ll have top players on all the courts.”
This season, in addition to its four grand slams and nine Masters 1000 events, the ATP added two tournaments to its third tier, boosting their ranking points and purses. One of the tournaments added was the Legg Mason.
The goal of the reorganization was to draw top players to more tournaments. Players are required to compete in eight of nine 1000-level tournaments and five of eleven 500-level events. Some, including Andy Roddick, who plays here next week, have criticized the new setup, saying it forces them to play too many events and provides no offseason to recharge.
The Legg Mason’s new status also provides a better slot on the ATP schedule.
“It’s the only men’s event this week,” said Newman. “That’s helped us attract some players who’ve never been here and some others who haven’t been here in a long time.”
Among the top players coming to Washington for the first time are No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 12 Robin Soderling, No. 15 Martin Cilic, and No. 16 Tommy Robredro.
No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez is here for the first time since 2003. Another former Legg Mason fixture, No. 18 James Blake, returns after a two-year absence.
