Rebellion with a cause

Talk of rebellion was thick in the air, as Khanna announced at a press meet that the Asian body was mulling a breakaway. “Because of the flawed structure of the ‘so-called’ world rankings by the ATP, it takes greater effort for Asians to break into the top 100. If the ATP does not change, the ATF will consider breaking away,” Khanna stated, adding that ATF would go ahead with an independent circuit.

The Asian body will go ahead with an Asian ranking system of its own—which will include events such as Asian Games—and has let it be known that it is marching towards readying itself for a fifth Grand Slam. “Why not — we are big economies?” Khanna said. “And China’s pitching heavily for it anyway.”

The breakaway threat, considering the questionable viability of the selling power of Asia’s top guns, might be aimed as just that — a threat — and might well be used effectively as a bargaining chip. “It has been discussed verbally amongst Asian nations, and we’ll be speaking to a lot of players during the Asian Championship. At least the ATP would know that an alternative thinking is on, and they need to move,” Khanna said, sounding confident.

Khanna also announced the crucial increase in the number of Challenger events in India for both men and women, though demanding alongside a 25 per cent regional representation in ATP events, increase in number of wild cards at such tournaments and allotment of 10-12 closed Challengers in Asia. While the Indian calendar for the coming year will see 16 Futures and six Challenger events, along with eight ITF junior tournaments, India will also host the Asia-Oceania Juniors event.