KEY POINTS:
He might be the world's No 3 men's player but Nikolay Davydenko is public enemy No 1 in tennis circles after his disparaging comments last week that Sydney was the tournament no one cared about.
He was slapped with a $10,000 fine by the ATP for unsportsmanlike conduct and drew a stinging response from American and world No 4 James Blake.
But, if nothing else, Davydenko's comments highlighted the plight of events that fall outside the grand slams and the lucrative Masters Series events.
Auckland's Heineken Open and ASB Classic fall into this category.
As much as fans and organisers want to think their tournament is special, some players care little about smaller events. On the men's tour, there will be 64 'special' events played in 30 countries in 2007.
One official at the Heineken Open this week even likened the ATP Tour to a circus - they roll into town, put up the tent, perform for the paying crowd and then head to the next venue to do it all again. It was a simplistic view but the point was inescapable and Davydenko was perhaps telling people what they didn't want to hear.
Tennis players are undoubtedly a different breed. There are few sports which allow combatants to be so selfish. It would be hard for Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, for example, to argue he gave it his all as he was bundled out of the Heineken Open on Monday - he lost the second set 6-0 in only 17 minutes.
Admittedly, it is difficult for everyone, seemingly except Roger Federer, to peak for every day and every match. Fortunately, most don't approach tennis this way and they certainly mean business when they're in with a chance of a title. The amount of racket-throwing and fist-pumping on show on centre court yesterday illustrated that.
But ATP figures also revealed 383 players withdrew from matches in 2006 and it was a topic due to be discussed with players in Melbourne this weekend. There has been mention of dishing out fines and other sanctions as a way to ensure players fulfil their commitments and eliminate no-shows but it would surely be difficult to police.
The WTA and ATP are in the throes of restructuring their tours in an attempt to guarantee better quality tennis, to cut down on injuries to leading players and to appeal more to fans and television networks.
The proposed WTA changes would mean top players appearing in fewer tournaments a year but have less say on which ones they play. It could also create an environment of haves and have-nots.
The affect this could have on the ASB Classic was brought into view last week and tournament director Richard Palmer will fight his case at a meeting of WTA officials in Melbourne tomorrow. The ASB Classic, which would become a tier two tournament, would be highly restricted in who they could attract to Auckland.
The ATP has already agreed on changes and will bring in a new calendar in 2009 that will ensure big tournaments, like Masters Series events, aren't played back-to-back.
They're also eliminating five-set finals from this year in all but a handful of tournaments as they consider player welfare.
However, there will always be a place for the likes of the Heineken Open, particularly because of its timing ahead of the Australian Open. It's unlikely to be affected by restructuring in the way the ASB Classic could be and fans here can look forward to a quality field again in 2008.
In the wash-up, Davydenko might even find his way to Auckland because Sydney is unlikely to roll out a welcoming committee. His presence would be a good 'circus' act.
