Chennai Open 2006 .. (P$ & Bops into doubles Final!!!)

[jayakris]

Here is some bad news, reported by Hindustan Times, by S.Kannan .. As it is in their ePaper, I cannot give a link. As their ePaper is again free now (thank you!) and it is important news, I will copy it here ..

Mahesh Won't Play in Chennai

S.Kannan, HT.

TO SEE Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi playing together on a tennis court has become a rarity. And the latest news is Mahesh will not be playing in the Chennai Open starting on January 2. The Chennai Open (called Gold Flake and Tata Open before) has been an ATP event whose success in the early years had a lot to do with Leander and Mahesh winning the doubles titles together.

Ever since the two split as partners from the pro circuit, they have been in Chennai with different partners. But sources say Mahesh is not coming this time as the organisers did not want to pay him appearance money. It is one thing to pay the likes of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya appearance money, but this time, even journeymen like Radek Stepanek were being offered `incentives.' And to leave Mahesh out of that list seems to be the problem area. It is learnt Leander Paes also gets appearance money.

Mahesh was not available for comments, but as per the ATP entry list, he is likely to be play in the rich Doha Open partnering Wesley Moody during the same time. Moreover, Moody, a good singles player, stands to gain by playing in Doha as even if he loses in the first round, there's more prize money. And since Mahesh is teaming up with Moody in the new season and will like to go for the Australian Open title, his decision to skip Chennai is bad news for the fans. After all, it's the only event where one get to see the Indian doubles superstar in action.
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Good to see Kannan writing openly about this little thing called "appearance money" .. I only disagree with his characterization of Stepanek as a journeyman.

LP and MB asking for apperance money at Chennai. Well, the tennis business is no different in India as it is in other places. I have never really had much of a problem with appearance money though -- and would welcome it if the tournaments actually released the figures they paid anybody to play!

Jay

[Nate]

I'm sure Mahesh will be missed in Chennai. Of any places, Chennai and Bangalore would be the places he would get fans into the stands.

[amr090]

Well everyone knows I hate appearance money...but since its widely done nothing can be done.

Personally, I am disappointed in both Leander and Mahesh taking apperance money to play in the one ATP tournament in their country. I understand tennis is their livelihood, but these guys are multimillionaires. Not only that, they portray themselves as 'patriots' and great lovers of India. And they take apperance money to play int he one tournament that is in India?? To me that is insulting, disappointing, and hypocricy.

Perhaps most will think I am overreacting. But I strongly feel, that someone who has love for their country, will play in the 1 tournament in that country with no questions asked for the love of that country and its people. India does not have too many stars in athletics, and Leander and Mahesh should see it as their responsibility to play in Chennai. Their play would bring happiness to many indians, and improve the draw of tennis throughout India.

I must say, my view of both Leander and Mahesh has lowered dramatically over the past year. For me they have fallen from a pdestal of iconic Indian stars, who hold themselves to the highest of ideals, to the common journeyman player only in it for the money.

[*sridinats*]

Arun,
Strong words but i totally agree with the points you make....I guess being players who have achieved so much all over the world i think they should be the ones guiding Indian tennis ahead and help popularise the game in this country....To see them demanding appearance money is fairly shocking...

Jus b'coz everyone everywhere seems to be taking appearance money for playing in their own country does not mean that it is not a despicable act

It is not something that can be condoned!!

Sridhar

[Nate]

I don't know where it would have started. If the organizers could pay Lee, why not Mahesh? Can't Lee play without appearance money?

[jayakris]

Hey, its is not as simple as some of you are thinking. Appearance money is something that is part and parcel of the tour. In general (not speaking of Lee/Hesh) if you are a player who can make the field at a tournament like Doha which pays 2.5 times as much prize money (even if the chances for winning against a tougher field is less) why would a player go to a lower level event for lesser prize money???

Why should somebody like a Paradorn Srichaphan come to Chennai when he can be in Doha? .. QF at Doha gives $29K and SF gives $49K while Chennai gives $10K and $18K respecively .. He probably stands to lose some $10-30K by coming to Chennai. Plus he knows his presence is important to Chennai .. Why shouldn't he get some apperance money? ..

Take Wesley Moodie, Mahesh's partner. He can get $17K by pulling off one upset as one of the lower entries at Doha. He could be a 5th seed at Chennai, reach the QF and still get only $10K .. Let us say he asked for some money (this is PURELY hypothetical - I have not been in touch with Mahesh or anything), is that such a bad demand?

There is a clear reason why there are only FOUR players in the Chennai field who could have made the field at other tournaments (Nadal, Moya, Stepanek, Srichaphan). Players would simply enter the higher prize money event as the first preference. This is standard, unless you offer them prize money. That the Chennai tournament did not have the sense to pay somebody like a Bjorkman to come to Chennai is a pity if you ask me.

I have no idea what levels of apperance money they are offering at Chennai but I am assuming that what they are giving Nadal and Moya is easily some 5 or 10 times what these oithers like a Moodie or Bjorkman or a Mahesh or a Leander would ask for.

If the tournament is smart, they would do a proper analysis of what kind of players can be sold to the public and come up with the funds to get the player. It is a business; nothing more nothing less.

Let us assume that Mahesh felt that playing with Moddie for two events is important before the Australian Open (where he stands to lose a LOT more money if he and Moodie are underpreapared), and wanted Moodie to be brought to Chennai .. Let us say they said they can't give the money. Why would you blame Mahesh?

The same would be the deal with Leander too, but remember that he might come a bit cheaper (again purely speculation on my part) because he is already expected to make (I assume) some money from the broadcasting work he is supposed to do at Chennai - probably with some understanding with Vijay Amritraj who is one of the organizers.

Just to put some numbers in, let us say LP asked for a $25K money and knows of a $25K from broadcasting (just numbers - I havbe no clue on the actual figures). Let us say Mahesh said he could bring in another top-75 player and himself for $75K .. Would that be a bad demand. From a pure business standpoint, I think it is not a bad deal at all. But if the tournament did not budge, shouldn't he go somewhere else?

I am giving all the above as just plausible scenarios. Trust me, I have absolutely no inside info. Just pointing out some details for all of you to consider. In general, I have not found the Chennai tournament really cutting enough deals with anybody but the Spaniards that Fernando Soler and IMG folks like Ravi Krishna seem to be close with. I won't be surpised if they tried to be cheap with Mahesh and he said go to hell ...

When we say that Indians should play at Indian events, we should also remember that the tournament folks do it as nothing but a business. The players should do likewise!

I have no problem at all in Leander and Mahesh asking for apperance money. That the tournament did not come up with what was needed to bring one of them in, is the pity.

Jay

[puneets]

When we say that Indians should play at Indian events, we should also remember that the tournament folks do it as nothing but a business. The players should do likewise!

From a purely business sense, the argument given by Jay makes sense.
But if a player 'really' wants to do something to promote tennis in his/her country, then this argument does not work as an excuse.

[amr090]

Jay you bring out some valid points, and I understand that tennis is a business. However the Chennai Open is ONE tournament. Leander and Mahesh have millions, Sacrificing 25k for one tournament for the greater good is nothing in my opinion. India is a country of ancient ideals, with the fundamental teaching that you should live life for the greater good. I may be getting too philosophical here but, I don't think it would kill Mahesh and Leander to play in Chennail for below average prize money once a year.

I think it is naive to assume, that they didnt come because they didnt get a lot of money. I think the reason Mahesh didnt show is, that he didnt get appearance money while Leander did. I think this has a lot more to do with ego than it does a business decision.

Tennis is a business but for 2 guys who profess great love for country and kinsman, to not come to a the only tournament in India for an extra 25k (in Mahesh's case), or to ask for 25k (in Leander's case) in my opinion is shameful and wholly unpatriotic. I hope sense comes to their heads, and (gasp maybe im asking for too much) they can sacrifice a couple thousand dollars and one week of their year for their country. Even without appearace money they are most likely going deep into the doubles and would make a decent amount of money.

[jayakris]

Who said Mahesh asked for $25K or that Leander took $25K ... Please don't state those kind of things as known items. We have no idea what money is involved, Arun!

However the Chennai Open is ONE tournament. Leander and Mahesh have millions, Sacrificing 25k for one tournament for the greater good is nothing in my opinion.

What greater good are we talking about? .. Absolutely NOTHING is going to happen whether MB plays or not, or if LP plays or not. When they were really stroking the imagination of the country's tennis-playing kids, I would have thought differently. Not now. What difference does it really make, except for IMG to make more money from the tournament? ... If they are going to profit from MB's being there, why shouldn't they pay? ... At this point this is not anything to do with MB helping India or anything. It is just between the tournament organizers and MB. So money is really all the matter is.

If he is instead going to play with Moodie at Doha, I think it is better. They need to play as many matches as possible befire Australian Open. If he was not going to be in Chennai, I would say Mahesh shouldn't be either.

This is not like MB or LP not showing up for Davis Cup because of money. Even in that case, I would say that if AITA is making money and not treating them right by paying enough, they have a right to complain, within certain limits.

Jay

[puneets]

After reading Jay's comments ("So money is really all the matter is "), I was reminded that tennis is infact an individual sport, where the players are not representing their country or anything..they are professionals who are playing for themselves.
These players don't worry whether their (Indian) fans get to see them play in their country. Why should they..because 'money is all that matters'.

[jayakris]

Not to such an extent though, puneets. There are of course grey areas. 5 years back, had LP or MB withdrawn on account of apperance money, I would have reacted very differently. They were still in the process of doing something to their country and their fans etc - keeping them excited about Indian tennis and all of that. Then there is indeed an argument that they should think beyond money a little bit and go the extra mile. In both these guys cases, they have indeed done that. They both showed up for every one of the last 9 ATP events in India when they were healthy, played some of the most exciting matches in Chennai, brought out the fans, etc etc.

At this point, it is quite different though. Now it is more between them and the tournament's business. Perhaps the tournament also acted like that - and Hesh said OK then hell with you.. Not a big deal now, in other words.

If Sania says tomorrow that she won't go to Bangalore WTA unless she is paid big money, I would be on her case - because her presence really really means a lot for the tournament and the country/fans.

Situations are different for different players. When I was looking into Harsh's schedule for January, I found that the best thing to do, considering the points he has to defend in the first part of January, would be to go to Sao Paolo for a challenger in the first week, rather than play Chennai. The cut closed at #332 and harsh would have been in the top-14 in a field of 32 there, at a $100K+H hard court event!!! ... Much much better option than to travel from US all the way to Chennai where he would not even get him a wildcard .. In fact I am even asking him to consider going to Sao Paolo but I think he probably feels that going to Chennai is something he should do (but why, really - I would ask??) .. Are there like 100s of fans in Chennai waiting to see Harsh play? -- Does the tournament care to even put HM's matches on the center court (they did not, last year, even after the India #1 qualified in) .. So the tournament thinks he is not a draw .. Why should HM go to Chennai rather than Sao Paolo, then? .. Would he be helping INdian tennis a lot by showing up? .. He did not enter Sao Paolo (but I think he may as well go play qualies there, than in Chennai!)

This is how it goes. We need to be realistic about what our "only" ATP tournament has done over time.

Jay

[srivaths]

I think the reason Mahesh didnt show is, that he didnt get appearance money while Leander did. I think this has a lot more to do with ego than it does a business decision.

Do you have any inside info to suggest what you have? If not, you are being extremely unfair to Mahesh by indulging in this kind of speculation.

And Jay, your post on leveraging appearance money was very insightful.

[kujo]

Are there like 100s of fans in Chennai waiting to see Harsh play? -- Does the tournament care to even put HM's matches on the center court (they did not, last year, even after the India #1 qualified in) .. So the tournament thinks he is not a draw .. Why should HM go to Chennai rather than Sao Paolo, then? ..

Marketing one self in the public life is a two way street... Media and the organizers would market a player (put the match on center court, fans screaming, interviews, etc) as much as the player is willing (and puttting time & effort) to market him/herself.

I agree that Harsh would be better off playing in a challenger than the Chennai ATP. But where would that lead to in the bigger picture of Harsh developing contacts (media, organizers, fans) in India?!

Having followed him for a while now, he does appear to be a person who wants to let his "tennis skills" do all the talking (on court and off court). Except for the recent Davis cup hoopla and his interviews during that time, there was never a period when he was really "talking"!!

My opinions... don't want to be hard on Harsh... he is, just the way he is...

cheers
-kujo

ps: You can always contrast this against Sania, who "talks" both on and off the court!!

[amr090]

Several things here....Jay: I was never saying he was paid 25k, i was merely using that as an example because in your earlier post you said LP might be paid around that much, it was merely an example....to me the amount they are paid is irrelevant.

Also Srivaths: No I have no inside information that it is no i have no inside info as to the reasons why MB didnt show up...i am merely hypothesizing.


Getting back to my points...Jay I think it makes a HUG difference in the tournament if MB and LP showup. Barring Sania they are the FACE of tennis India and the can make or break the tournament in my view. I for example was inspired byh LP and MB when I was young and I'm sure many today still look at these guys as heroes. I dint mean to make a big deal but for me a bubble where these guys were my heroes has been burst to some extent the past year.

I was going to bring up Harsh but didnt cuz many think I'mn pro harsh. He is the perfect example of being patriotic. How many times has he changed his schedule for Davis Cup. Hes been going to Chennai because he feels it is his duty as an indian to encourage the sport there despite being treated as second rate there. To me it is the feeling one has to help out and encourage tennis.

Maybe I am wrong but I expect a lot more from our players than others in terms of class. We have had tennis players like Krishnan, Amritraj, Mukherjee, who were great tennis players but more importantly class acts off the field as well. MB not showing up due to appearance money is just disappointing for me.

[puneets]

MB not showing up due to appearance money is just disappointing for me.

This is how most of the fans will feel. Not everyone knows about appearance fee etc. All that the fans care is that their players don't let them down and at least play in the home tournaments.