KEY POINTS:
Plans to change the Australian Open court surface will have a direct impact on New Zealand's premier events.
Tennis Australia are considering dumping Rebound Ace in favour of hardcourts for the opening Grand Slam event of the year in January in Melbourne.
Reports this week suggested it could
be as early as next year; more likely it will not happen before 2009.
That means tournaments leading up to the Australian Open who also have the rubberised Rebound Ace - including the ASB Classic and Heineken Open - will have to follow suit to keep attracting top players, who want to prepare for the Open.
Auckland Tennis chief executive Graham Pearce has had no official communication from TA but acknowledged the Aussies are moving on various fronts as they look to improve their reputation on the world stage.
"We know Tennis Australia are reviewing playing surfaces in general as part of their player development programmes," Pearce said yesterday. "I'm sure it's part of the big picture."
The last time TA changed surfaces was 20 years ago when it moved the Grand Slam off the grass at Kooyong. Now the search is on for a surface to be used throughout the country.
Players have voiced concerns that the Rebound Ace can become sticky under the January sun in Melbourne, that it soaks up the heat more than hardcourts and becomes a bit softer.
TA are trying to settle on an ideal surface for young players to learn the game, and to continue playing on as they move into professional ranks, rather than be switching between grass, artificial grass, hardcourt and Rebound Ace.
Pearce cited Doha, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney and Auckland as venues which would be affected due to their position on the calendar, as lead-ins to the Australian Open.
There are a variety of hardcourt surfaces TA could plump for, at a range of prices. The ASB Tennis Centre, where Auckland Tennis has development plans of their own in the pipeline, would probably require five courts to be relaid. "We very clearly need to create conditions as close as we can to the Australian Open. I'm sure we'd be in line with whatever they end up doing," Pearce added.
Auckland Tennis will await advice from TA on its plans, but Pearce doubts it will happen before 2009.
"I'd be very surprised if it's next year. I'm sure they'll talk to tournaments like us at an appropriate time but I'd suggest it's too early at the moment."
* Auckland Tennis finished in the black from their marquee tournaments in January, the women's ASB Classic and men's Heineken Open.
"Both performed better than budgeted. We had a good run with the Classic and the Open was heavily sold out anyway," Pearce said.