Former US Open champion Marin Cilic has become the latest player to voice his opposition to plans to cut seeds in grand slam tournaments from 32 to 16.
In November The Grand Slam Board voted to revert back to the 16-seed system in major tournaments from 2019 onwards. Something that hasn’t occurred in a grand slam tournament since the 2001 French Open. According to the WTA, using 32 seeds had little impact on if a unseeded player reaches the later round of a grand slam tournament or not.
The proposed change will mean that players in the top 10 could face tougher rounds earlier in the tournament. For example world No.1 Simona Halep could face a player such as Ash Barty in the first round based on the current WTA rankings.
World No.6 Cilic, who won the 2014 US Open, has blasted the plans. Saying that the decision was made ‘out of the blue’ and without any consultation with the players.
“It’s tough to say, I am quite a traditional guy, quite a traditional player. I don’t like those changes. I don’t know what it’s going to bring to tennis — maybe just for TV and for those first couple of rounds.” The Croat told reporters in India.
“But that’s not where tennis should go. I think tennis should be turned to the players, and it should be discussed with the players what is the best thing to do. For me, making those decisions out of the blue sky, sometimes maybe it could be good but most of the times, these decisions are not that good.”
Cilic is not alone in voicing his opposition. During the offseason Agnieszka Radwanska was also critical of the plans. The former Wimbledon finalist is currently ranked 28th in the world and would not be seeded under the system.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea to be honest. I don’t know why they changed that. I don’t know what’s wrong with what we’ve had so far,” Radwanska said during an interview with Sport360 last month.
On the other hand, 19-time grand slam champion Roger Federer has voiced his support. Arguing that it could make the draw more interesting. Illustrated by Halep’s match against Maria Sharapova’s in the first round of the US Open last year.
Anderson casts doubts
Whilst it appears that the 16-seed system will come into force. Kevin Anderson believes that nothing is concrete yet. Anderson is the vice-president of the ATP Player council. A committee of elected players who holds meetings with the ATP Management and the ATP Board of Directors throughout the year.
“I know they have stated their intent to that, I don’t think it’s been confirmed just yet. Just being on the Council, I know it’s something that the Slams have spoken about before. I don’t think it’s been written into the rules just yet. So, I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. It will be very interesting.” Said Anderson.
“I mean, the Slams wanted 32 seeds in the first place to protect players. Now they are going back on it. So I am not quite sure about their reasoning. I don’t know if they feel like they need more exciting matches, in the first few rounds. I don’t really necessarily think so. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see over the next few months.”
Anderson’s comment hints that there may be a reconsideration about the idea, however, there has been no indication of this happening from the Grand Slam Board.
