COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 8, 1996

Andreas Barth

Daniel Beauvois

Axel Meyer-Wolden

Wilfred Spronk

Brian Tobin

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, welcome for our closing press conference. This is the seventh Compaq Grand Slam Cup here at the Olympiahalle here in Munich. Before the defending champion Goran Ivanisevic and Boris Becker start playing the final today, it is my pleasure to introduce again those who are closely linked to this tournament, its organization, and everything surrounding the players and so on. Dr. Axel Meyer-Wolden - I do not have to introduce him. Mr. Brian Tobin, the ITF president. We have Daniel Beauvois, the managing director of ISPR. Again, Mr. Andreas Barth, senior vice president and general manager of our title sponsor Compaq. And, again, with us Mr. Wilfred Spronk, managing director of the Olympiapark Company. Could I ask Daniel Beauvois to give a statement from the point of view of the marketing and organizing company.

DANIEL BEAUVOIS: Thank you, Mr. Lubenoff. Being the marketing company, we entered this tournament with only one unknown factor; that was the number of tickets sold. At our opening press conference, I told you that we were very satisfied, indeed, with the marketing of our tournament, with five new sponsors. Escada, SKL, Telly D1, Rado and Generali. As far as the television marketing is concerned, we had a very successful tournament. We are still having with today's final live in 153 countries worldwide. The ticket sales were on the whole comparable to last year. On the whole, we are going to have 64,150 tickets sold over six days, which makes 250 tickets less than last year. So, the result is comparable. We are satisfied with it. Now, of course, we are also satisfied with the way the tournament has been able to establish itself. Of course, we had to struggle with a number of players cancelling, you know that. But, a final with the defending title holder and the world champion runnerup playing is sort of a dream final, isn't it? This is why I'm very satisfied. I'm looking forward to this final and hope it's going to be an exciting one. Of course, a problem for us is to have only ten months now until the eighth Compaq Grand Slam Cup because, as you know, it's taking place between the 23rd and 28th of September, which makes our preparation time a bit short. It used to be a tradition here to have it in this preChristmas period. It's going to be a bit more tight for my staff and myself, and certainly no summer holiday, but this is how it goes. This is only once between the seventh and the eighth Grand Slam Cup; then, again, we are going to have 12 months to prepare this tournament. I'm already looking forward to seeing you again in September of next year.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Thank you. Could I ask the chairman to address the audience. Dr. Meyer-Wolden.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: I am pleased to say that the seventh Grand Slam Cup, Compaq Grand Slam Cup, is ending the way it ends. We have seen some excellent tennis. We are going to have a very interesting final. Of course, I heard all the criticism that you made in your media to this tournament for more than seven years. I have got used to criticism and I accept this. I think it's fair enough, only I would be very obliged if you could apply a couple of objective criteria in making your criticism because, as you know, the world of tennis isn't that simple anymore. It's much more complex. You know, there are many tournaments today that used to be important tournaments, and they simply don't exist anymore. Could I mention Sidney, Tokyo, Stockholm, Amsterdam. Now, in very general terms, tennis is facing a difficult period right now. I can mention that in its seventh year, this tournament continues to feature figures that are really model figures in the world of tennis, a hall almost sold for six days every day, to launch a tournament the first day, we were booked out, the second day, too, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, right in the middle of the week. These are objective criteria that you can't discuss away. Of course, at the end of the year, sometimes we have difficulties with players, we know abundantly and we have been obliged to accept this as being normal. It is not just our tournament. Every tournament worldwide has to struggle. Those who know and follow tennis and have been doing so for years, they know how difficult it is. You just think of Bercy, the first and second round, or all the top seeds were out. If you know the world of tennis, you know somebody like Krajicek had his difficulties after Wimbledon to show any further good performance. And, you know that Andre Agassi has been struggling with a lot of problems also in Hannover. This tournament is really not an exception. It's only confirming the rule. Our system is, as you know, the 16 best players of the four Grand Slam tournaments are automatically qualifying for this tournament and are then invited. They are not obliged to come. It's an invitation to the players qualified as opposed to the ATP Finals. So they come on their own free will. When the US Open finished, the qualification is done. In October, the players can then commit themselves to this tournament. At the end of the year, it's not easy to handle. It brings difficulties. We have to cope with these. But they are not symptomatic for this tournament. If you carry on writing that this is a pure exhibition tournament, I would say you don't know what an exhibition tournament is. This tournament is based on points players earned at the four most important tournaments of the world. This opens their right to play in this tournament. Those who play in this tournament have, the vast majority of them, we can't generalize, but the vast majority have given their performance. We have been able to see great matches here. I for one believe that if one player or two do not show the commitment expected at this tournament, you should also consider some excuse for them because it has been a long year, indeed, of tennis. Of course, we can't get into the playing a round robin system again. It's a knock-out system. And, if they fail, it's over. There can be a bad day for players. You may remember when Boris Becker played this tournament the first time, he went out in the first round; second time, the second round. Now, the third time he went out in the semis. Now we have him in the final. This does not mean that over the years - and you know how close I feel to Boris - that he didn't do his best. Although, people would write that he didn't take the tournament seriously. I think the contrary is true. And, I'd be very obliged if you could cover what players say about the tournament. These difficulties, considering all this at the end of the year, the four Grand Slam tournaments, consulting with myself, have decided to move it closer to the last Grand Slam tournament, the US Open, which means that as of next year, we are going to be playing in the fourth week of September. Now, if there is an additional effect or consequence, it's the first Oktoberfest week in Munich which might make it more easy to design the tournament, to give it a new shape. I can only promise that we're going to do everything possible to give you a very pleasant and good week in Munich. Thank you, very much for your presence this week.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Thank you, Dr. Meyer-Wolden. Brian Tobin, could I ask a quick statement of you, how you think of this Compaq Grand Slam Cup 1996?

BRIAN TOBIN: Thank you. I don't know that I've got much to add. I think I've made this speech for five or six years now. It's always one of support for this event. The ITF, the international tennis family, is delighted with the Compaq Grand Slam Cup. It has a legitimate reason for being. It's the culmination of performances in the Grand Slams during the year. Surely there's no more valid and credible way of qualifying for an event of this type. It is one of the major events of the year. You only have to look outside and see the support that it's being given by the public. I think, yes, there have been some problems with players this year here. But, this isn't the only tournament that's had problems with players this year. If you look back at a few of the others - I'm thinking of the Paris indoors as one of them - I think one has to look at some of the players and ask whether they're acting in a professional way towards their sport rather than criticizing the events. I think the new dates will provide a much better time; will provide the players with probably no reasons or excuses for not playing. The Grand Slam Cup, the Compaq Grand Slam Cup, was originally scheduled at this time of the year to avoid any conflict, any interference with the ATP Tour. I think that the lack of cooperation and support there has forced the event to reschedule at a time that's much more appropriate to the event. It's the culmination of the Grand Slams, and it should take place soon after the four Grand Slams have occurred. I don't need to remind you. I think that the tournament also provides $2 million to the Grand Slams which go into the development of tennis worldwide. That's being used constantly to develop more tennis players, which will in turn help all of us with new faces, new talent at these major tournaments. I hope that you will understand that from our point of view, we consider this a very important, worthwhile and beneficial event. It seems to me that some of the criticisms and lack of support for this tournament have also been evident in other areas. I speak of the Davis Cup. Last week in Malmo, I think the Davis Cup answered those critics just as well as I'm sure the Compaq Grand Slam Cup will. It has our wholehearted support.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Could I ask Mr. Barth to give his view from the title sponsor's point of view.

ANDREAS BARTH: Again, this year, we, Compaq, are most satisfied with this tournament. This is the unanimous opinion of more than 5,000 guests that we have been inviting this week. We've seen some excellent tennis, although we're a bit disappointed to see that some players withdrew in the last minutes. But, there were great matches. The organization of this tournament is perfect. You couldn't do it any better. The mood in the hall is very good. And, I think that Munich, in this preChristmas season, is an excellent atmosphere. With our on-line service, the most important one, the biggest one that we've ever had for such a tournament, Baseline '96, we have been very successful. As you know, there has been a world first with our video images on the Internet, things like the Olympic Games or the World Cup wouldn't have it, although they are larger organizations. It's really a good thing and we're going to improve this for the future. As far as we are concerned, we are totally supporting this tournament. And, we're going to do everything to make our contribution for this tournament to become still more attractive - even better. I think the shift to September, as we mentioned a couple of times, is going to contribute a lot to this. I can tell from the talks I had with players. They said this is very positive. It's still the running season and we are going to contribute again and again for this tournament to be the best of the best.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Thank you, very much. Just a final word, our host, Mr. Spronk.

MR. SPRONK: Of course, a tournament is ending now that has again been a highlight for the Olympiapark, but also for the City of Munich, worldwide PR at its best. During this week we have been featuring an atmosphere here that has been frequently mentioned, has been excellent for the tournament. I'd like to say just one word to those who, as Mr. Beauvois mentioned, the crowd, in spite of all the things that are offered here, they focused on the sport. The stands have been well occupied during the matches. Between the matches and after, they turn to other activities that we have been featuring here, which is not always the case in other tournaments. In the past, we had to learn a little of this. This has been done in a very employ way. The crowd has really been focusing on tennis this week, while accepting everything else. We are looking forward to the tournament next September and we are certain, together with ISPR, to feature again a very attractive tournament with very warm and welcoming atmosphere here in Munich.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Thank you, very much. Your questions, please.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: There was no question?

DANIEL BEAUVOIS: Even though it's not a question, I'd like to address this point. We have been hesitating between doing the draw on the Monday prior to the tournament as we did. The alternative would have been to do it on the Saturday before the start of the tournament. As you know, the three cancellations that hit us, Sampras, Chang and Todd Martin, were announced to us on Sunday. If we had done the draw on Saturday, it wouldn't have changed anything. It would have been exactly the same situation. We would have been believing that Sampras, Chang and Todd Martin would have been taking place. It would have been confronted with the problem without changing anything.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Next question.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: Well, you have to ask Mr. Krajicek. I can't tell you. We, the tournament organizers, can only make rules. The rules say that who qualifies at the four Grand Slam tournaments is entitled to play. Now, of course, we do this. I do not know to what extent who is, maybe, injured or not; what he can and can't do. I'm not the right person to ask.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: If you can tell me how to do it, I'll be pleased to do so. I don't see any possibility. As I mentioned, we are the organizers. We have to respect somebody qualifying, coming, playing as any other tournament. Of course, it's a matter of, as you wrote, professionalism of players. Should they do so or not? This is up to the player, to take the responsibility.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: It's not all that generous. We're not throwing the money in front of the player. As has been mentioned a couple of times, there is performance to be made by the player for the money. It's the four Grand Slam tournament's performance. The tournament lives by the players. Without the players, nothing would be possible. I've always said that a major part of the income of this tournament has got to be given to those who make this tournament. And, they are the players; aren't they? I still believe this. The other possibility would only be for the organizer to take the money, to put it into his pocket and to make a benefit out of this. If the media want this, you suggest we think about it, it's not my concept. Every tournament has a good and bad side, positive and negative aspects. Always the range of somebody profiting from it, the possibility to protect yourself from it is small. We have designed the tournament this way, experience over seven years. I can't even confirm in the case of Krajicek. What I heard is relatively new to me. Now, there is a sort of black sheep, but it's not symptomatic for the 15 others to played.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Next question, please.

BRIAN TOBIN: I think the question just answered probably confirms that; doesn't it? I gather from the last question that the tournament was being blamed for being attractive to the players. I don't think you can blame the tournament for wanting to be the best tournament and to make the best benefits for the players. Every tournament should do that. I don't see how the tournament - as Dr. Meyer-Wolden said - can legislate for players who turn up and who aren't fully fit. I'm sure they do that at other tournaments around the world as well. It doesn't raise so much exposure as it does here. If you're asking the question whether players who do not try - I'm not talking about here - I'm talking any tournament, players who do not try or players who play a first round injured to get the prize money, I guess you'd have to ask the question, don't you, is that a professional attitude from players?

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: For the remainder, I am not prepared to accept this in such general terms as you do it. It is an individual case, or maybe two, but this cannot lead to generalizing. If you ask this question, I must simply assume that you know it's not symptomatic for this tournament. It also goes for other tournaments. What happened in Hannover? There was an ATP bonus. Those who couldn't play could still get the -- can't get the bonus. They have an obligation to appear; then they get a bonus. Where is the difference? Agassi comes and says that this entitles me to the bonus, up to a million, and then he doesn't play. I wouldn't get the bonus if I didn't come. It's exactly the same, isn't it? Now, I simply assume that if you ask this type of question, that you do have to know the circuit. You must not say it's symptomatic if it appears in an individual case. I am not going to flee from your criticism. Every time I believe we can improve something, I'm prepared to do so. But you really cannot say, and your shedding a bad light on the tournament, to say that people come just to take the money and go home. If you do say so, obviously, you didn't see the matches in the hall. You must have been somewhere else.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: Yes, where criticism has to be made, I'm prepared to accept it. Of course, we learn by criticism. We are grateful if you point certain things out, but this has got to be specific, case specific. You can't say this in general terms about the tournament. I'm grateful. I'm in charge of players, as you know. We do not have a monopoly here, where you say there's only one group deciding everything. We have the ATP on one side. It's certainly got its own rights. We have the ITF and Grand Slam Cup tournaments. This is very good because it makes sure we don't face the normal monopoly problems, when monopoly has all the power, doesn't have to face criticism. My conscience is really clear with this tournament. I do not have a political function. I'm not close to the ATP, nor the ITF. This tournament is independent for what it does. This is why it is able to give this prize money to those who support the tournament, the players. Other tournaments can't do this to this extent. There are major benefits generated for the organizers. One final word I didn't say in the beginning. Please do not forget that this tournament is one of the most successful tournaments of the world. Give me tournaments that are sold out the very first day at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. What about the tournaments that live up to your expectations, that can't live economically speaking, Sidney, Tokyo, Stockholm. Tournaments that I used to admire before I was in this field. Given the system, for whatever reason, they can't live. In spite of all the criticism we have known and faced in seven years, we have still created one of the most important tournaments of the world. This is what is interesting for me, the acceptance of people coming here, 64,000 people, glad to see what they see. Millions on television screens, they are positive. If this tournament was so bad, as you say, people wouldn't come and millions wouldn't match the television.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Given the fact that in 12 minutes the final starts, maybe two further questions.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: Well, I think your first question, the answer is no. The normal Grand Slam format of best of five cannot be adopted here because we do not have this day off, this free day in between. It would be hard to do this in a week.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: This week, around 550 media representatives have been accredited here.

DR. MEYER-WOLDEN: These are questions where I'm glad you ask them because I'm the one who has the least experience in this field. To make a draw more attractive, to think about the point system, I think we are totally open to this. On the other hand, you must know that the four Grand Slam tournaments make the rules of this tournament, not that this tournament makes the rules. Also, the fact that if this was at all feasible, we'd make the proposal.

ROBERT LUBENOFF: Thank you, very much. I wish us a very great final of the Compaq Grand Slam Cup and see you again for the players' press conferences.

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