I'm suffering US Open withdrawal. The US Open Series was actually great...a lot of tennis on each week, and then the festival in New York. G4G, buddy, help me out here...when can I get my next fix? I know they'll be other tournaments, and year end championships, but the majors are the ultimate. And we're now in winter.

At least Kim won.

The Aussie is in mid-January, the 16th through the 26th. So you've got about three and a half months

This time of year is always dullsville in tennis. They really could shorten the season to end a month or so earlier.

Well they couldn't possibly do that and lose that revenue. I mean, players certainly aren't injured more these days, that's just crazy talk. Besides the year end championship, there's really not too much more to be excited about.

I think the Aussie Open is right up there with the US Open as my favorite major. I'm not really a fan of Wimbeldon (sp?), and thre French has really started to fall off the radar for me. The local NBC station in Charlotte has a telethon on that weekend, so I don't even get an opportunity to watch the women's final.

I'd put the Australian open back at the end of the year, making it the de facto year ending championships. Start the season in mid-February.

The fact that we get little to no coverage this time of year, unless we have the Tennis Channel, makes things relatively difficult to follow.

However ... there are currently some interesting storylines with either tour.

1. The quest for the #1 ranking on the Women's side ... Clijsters is seemingly in control, but Davenport and Sharpie could make a run.
2. Can Pierce keep up her recent resurgence indoors?
3. Will Federer lose again this year?
4. Can Nadal find his game indoors?
5. Will Roddick break out of his "slump?"

Besides ... I'm a huge statistics junkie, so even if I can't watch the matches right now, I still find following the scores pretty interesting.

Nick

Actually, I think the season should begin in January, but the Aussie Open should be in February, to allow for more build up. The French should be moved up one week (start one week earlier), and the Big W should be one week later. A real, albeit short, grass court season would balance better with having a major on grass. Year end championships should be in October. A true off season would probably help the players a lot physically.

Thanks for the dates of the Aussie, G4G. You are too good. And keep sharing the stats that interest you, Nick. Like learning new things or being reminded of things I had forgotten.

That would work, too, although I'd rather move Wimbedon two to three weeks forward than the French backward. Hamburg has miserable enough weather as it is without being pushed a week earlier. July's a pretty dead month for tennis anyway.

I was intrigued during Wimbledon that one of the players arguing for a real grass court season to warm up on was, surprisingly, Guillermo Coria. As much of an ass as he often is, I admire his resolve to improve his game on fast surfaces.

I like the current dates for the Aussie, only because it rewards players who work hard during the off season. I honestly believe that the only reason why Agassi won so many Australian Opens was because he worked damn hard during winter, so that he was better prepared than any other player--same thing with Hingis during her prime. If the tournament gets pushed back, you would see less of that.

I agree that the Aussie does reward people who work hard in the "off season," but I also feel like there isn't really an off season at all. They work and train and compete for eleven months and I'm sure, after all that, want to have a slight bit of down time and be with family during the holidays.

If a player takes that little bit of personal time and doesn't train, then he/she loses ground, and that seems crazy to me. Which is why I think ending the season sooner is better than pushing things back at the start. Players could still train and prove their commitment without sacrificing their competitive edge or what little time with their families they are allowed.

I am really excited about the year end championships, especially now that both are round robin tournaments. Federer was on Letterman last night, after snubbing him during the Open, but I couldn't stay up to watch it. I've seen some Davis Cup play over the past week--very impressed with Slovakia, but tennis does really fall off the radar at this time. If anyone is near Philadelphia for the Advanta Championship, they should attend as it is a really intimate venue and usually a great place to see top players before the YEC.

Where are the year ends played now? And when? Once they left New York, they seemed to lose importance and recognition, at least to me on the East Coast.

JC, good point about leaving the French at the same time due to weather in Europe, and moving Wimbledon later. That could still balance the spring/summer and allow several weeks before each major for regular tourney play. Still like the Aussie later, so more of the regular tourneys are aimed at a major. Anyone down under....is Melbourne weather worse (hotter) in February than in January, or just as brutal?