ATP seeks to simplify ranking system

There will be no changes in the dates of the four Grand Slams, he said.The new annual calendar that will go into effect in 2000 will start with the Australian Open, followed by two tournaments in the United States 8212; Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, except that Key Biscayne will switch from hard court to a clay surface.

Two clay-court events in Europe will follow to serve as warm-ups for the French Open.

After Wimbledon, one hard court tournament in North American will precede the US Open. Two indoor events, in Stuttgart and Paris, will come before the season ends with the World Championship.

Miles spoke at a news conference at the ATP tour world championship, which will stay in Hanover through 1999, with an option for another year.The event will then move around the world to a new venue every year, Miles said, and possibly include women.

The ATP tour is holding talks with the women8217;s WTA organisation to unify their season-ending championships and the schedule, bringing women and men to play together at the top-level events.

Currently, apart from the Grand Slams, most tournaments are separate for men and women.

8220;That8217;s an invitation, but no decision has been made,8221; Miles said.The so-called Super Series now includes nine tournaments that offer at least 2 million in prize money.

The new schedule means that one of the established clay-court events in Europe before the French Open would be relegated to the second-tier category. They are the German Open in Hamburg, Monte Carlo and the Italian Open in Rome.

In North America, either the Canadian Open in Montreal or the tournament in Cincinnati will be dropped.

A still-to-be appointed committee that will include a former player, a marketing expert and a business leader will decide which tournaments will be dropped.

Another proposal would merge the rival Grand Slam Cup with the ATP Tour world championship. The Grand Slam Cup is now played in Munich, Germany, in September.

The rankings will begin every year at zero for all players, with them compiling points at all tournaments. The present system is based on a player8217;s best 14 tournaments in a year.

8220;We think it8217;s really important to make it more understandable,8221; Miles said of the ranking system.

Players will be committed to the four Grand Slams, the seven top-tier events and four of the planned 16 second-tier tournaments on the schedule.