On Sunday, the champion in tennis determined. But the result is without relevance. Many players are injured and rebelling against the association
Many tennis players were in this year before their doctor more frequently than on the court. In Women’s tennis number one moved often. Ana Ivanovic won in Paris and then lost the top position because of a thumb injury.

Many tennis players were in this year before their doctor more frequently than on the court. In Women’s tennis number one moved often. Ana Ivanovic won in Paris and then lost the top position because of a thumb injury.

It should be the perfect show: The eight best tennis players in the world fighting for the world title. So the organizers had the Masters Cup in Shanghai presented. Who at the end has come? For example, Nicolas Kiefer, 31 years old, from Holzminden in Hanover. The number 35 in the world from Germany to China to serve as a substitute player of the replacement players to stand if one of the eight top people finally fails. Because jaw colleagues struggling in Shanghai mainly with itself: ankle injury, Rückenblessur, pain in the foot – the medical files pile up.

Rafael Nadal has been right at home. The First World from Spain had the tournament two weeks ago because of a knee injury on the right canceled. In June, Nadal won for the fourth time in succession, the French Open. In July, he defeated arch rival Roger Federer in an epic Wimbledon final. In August he won Olympic gold in Beijing in the singles and Federer ousted from first place in the world. This position is Nadal to keep year-end. His head is so big that he is not participating in the Masters Cup may be obtained.

The race for first place is gone. A boring sign for a tennis tournament did not exist. Roger Federer, this year many unusual defeats flak had said about the absence of Nadal: “He is the ultimate opponent for me. A pity that he is not here. ”

Above all, the reason for cancellation ensures Nadal horror. The muscle man from Majorca is one of the austrainiertesten tennis player in the world. “The fact that the top players – even a 22-year-old powerhouse – just not in a position to end the year, is a strong indication of a deeply flawed system,” says the American tennis columnist Jon Wertheim.

Many players were in this year before their doctor more frequently than on the court. The Women’s Tennis shows even more clearly: When a player is on the top of world rankings was dropped from injury: Maria Sharapova won the Australian Open, played since July but no longer match. Once again hurt her shoulder. Successor Ana Ivanovic won in Paris and then lost the top position because of a thumb injury. And U.S. Open champion Serena Williams in the ranking slipped back down after they are injured at the ankle. “The number one has been passed around like the proverbial hot potato,” mocked the English newspaper The Times.

Where are all the cases of sickness? The sport is tennis in the last decade have become powerful. Unlike the moon-ball times by Gabriela Sabatini haut now every player with full force on. In the men’s tennis players today untrained could no longer hold out of three match. But many tennis professionals see the blame mainly on the part of associations. And the First World Rafael Nadal has his own personal scapegoat found: Etienne de Villiers, the president of the Mr. Tennis Association ATP.

De Villiers has to reform its commercial plans, the players some reasonably – and all against top professionals are upset. Step by step, the ATP chief traditional tournaments such as the one at Hamburg Rothenbaum in planning the season and moved demoted. He followed the money from sponsors to Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai and Dubai. For the tennis player the hardest: Whoever at the other end of the world does not compete, will be punished. For who, from 2009, one of the nine most important tournaments cancels violated, may be next year, where he most sections, no longer applies.

The prizes will be increased, but at the same time the players to PR events and photo shoots committed. This is the season with tournaments from the beginning of January until mid-November, extremely long. These plans accounted for Nadal and Federer so angry that they only write a letter in which 18 of the 20 best players of ATP boss de Villiers indirectly asking to resign. Then both were in the select Spielerrat – a challenge to the association’s leadership. De Villiers was a president who “does not represent us” and also “arrogant” was found Nadal. While de Villiers announced after the attacks to his job in December to the nail to hang. But the new rules will change nothing. They are valid until 2011.

Rafael Nadal is inconsequential Masters Cup finals just before the TV can follow. He, however, announced on his website that he is the best year of his career will rest only once.