The ‘Perth Special’ kicks off
The 2015 Hopman-Cup is now on in the slow-paced Australian city of Perth. Globally there are a few known Inter-nation’s team Tennis events every year and the Hopman-Cup, is a tribute to the late great Harry Hopman, who put Australia on the world map of Tennis creating a permanent mark in the history of world sport. What makes ‘Hopman-Cup’ so special is that it has women’s and men’s singles and the rare mixed-doubles incorporated into the competition. While most of Australia’s big events are based on its Eastern side, the Hopman-Cup played in Western Australia and has its own location with a 55,000 capacity modern stadium. The first Hopman-Cup was played in 1989.
Eight nations come together in Perth every January for this ITF event. This year the event has teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, USA, Australia, France, United Kingdom and Poland. The entry to the event seems to be based on the strength of the player ranking together as a team and the seeding also goes on the same basis. The two member team of a woman and a man has the format of two singles and a mixed doubles. It is this mixed-double that makes the event very special. The other popular team events the Fed-Cup is for women only and Davis-Cup and Nation’s Cup in Dusseldorf Germany are for men only.
Something special
In singles, a player is subjected to the rhythm and challenge of a single opponent. The Doubles places a player in a more demanding situation of accommodating the rhythm of the partner and the challenge of two players across the net. All being of the same gender, it is somewhat easier than mixed doubles. The rhythm of women and men are different, even at international level. Due to this, the players will have to change radically to play good mixed doubles.
The women’s reaction and rhythm is slower than that of men and has more appeal to the spectators. In fact, one of the reasons why men’s doubles does not attract much of an audience interest is the speed at which the modern men’s doubles is played. Mixed doubles changes this and challenges the players’ skills more. The men will have to come down in their tempo to accommodate their women partners and in turn women will have to use position, shot section and accommodate the speed of men. With four players on court with different tempos, all certainties vanish and the match remains open till the end. For those who have experienced this, it will be easy to understand but to accommodate it on court will be a constant challenge regardless at what level Tennis is played.
Enjoyable Tennis in Perth
The three different tempos of women’s singles, men’s singles and the mixed doubles are giving an inviting spectator appeal in Hopman-Cup. In the format of two groups of four teams each and playoff semi-finals, spectators are certain to see the players they wish when they attend the matches. The only exception to this rule being, the injury issue. Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic has been impressive up to now in singles and mixed doubles. Serena Williams was ousted by Eugenie Bouchard of Canada. The last two days Tennis in Perth, ending on January 10 will be very exciting.
Who and where?
If one follows the events in the Tennis Calendar this year, it will be noticed that the elite players are scattered all over Australasia. There are events in Shanghai, Brisbane, Qatar and Auckland and in Perth at the same time. The events are from the WTA, ATP and ITF global calendar. The top ten players of the world are distributed in four locations according to their preference and benefits. That is the up side of the story but unfortunately there is a down side to it as well.
With good players scattered in various events, the final rounds of these events will not have the same impact as the ones which attract all the good players to one location. Sooner or later, all these events will have to face a drop in spectator interest which can prove to be a serious issue. The rule now seems to me that it is going to be survival of the fittest for these venues. This issue has been surfacing for a while, with competition on the rise for the demand for Tennis events in mega cities. Tennis events have the mega-city appeal and there are too many mega-cities now even in Asia. All these are placing questions on the system. Auckland, Brisbane and Perth however are producing some very good Tennis at this moment.
Man worthy of Tribute
The most admirable aspect of Harry Hopman’s life would be his strength and his ability to stay in the game throughout his 79 year long life, always finding a way to enhance the game in all four corners of the world. There are institutions to which he has contributed in every continent. It is to such pioneering efforts Australia is most grateful to him. Harry Hopman rose to the rank of a global statesman through sports. This annual event in Perth is a fitting tribute to him.
* George Paldano, former international player; Accredited Coach of Germany, National, Davis Cup and Federation Cup Coach, ITF and USPTR. [gptennis.ceylon@gmail.com]