ATP opposes US Open switch to a Monday final

LONDON — The ATP opposes the U.S. Open’s switch to a Monday final in 2013 and is not satisfied with the prize money increase for the tournament.

The U.S. Tennis Association announced last Friday that the women’s final would be moved to Sunday and the men’s championship match to Monday next year.

While the move builds in a rest day ahead of each final for the first time, the ATP said Monday it was against the change and would continue to fight it.

“The ATP and its players have made it clear to the U.S. Open that we do not support a Monday final,” the governing body for men’s tennis said in a statement. “We strongly believe the U.S. Open should keep a similar schedule to the other Grand Slams, with the men’s semifinals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday.

“It is unfortunate the U.S. Open response did not reflect our views on this issue and the ATP and its players will continue to pursue this matter in its discussions with the USTA.”

Rain forced the USTA to postpone the men’s final from its scheduled Sunday slot to Monday each of the past five years.

Some top male players complained that the U.S. Open was the sport’s only major tournament that put their semifinals and final on consecutive days. The men’s semifinals in New York will stay on Saturday under the new plan.

A decision about 2014 and beyond probably will come after the 2013 tournament.

Wimbledon, the French Open and Australian Open follow another pattern: women’s semifinals Thursday, men’s semifinals Friday, women’s final Saturday, men’s final Sunday.