Organizers of the Paris ATP Masters Series tournament are considering a switch of date from early November to February from the 2014 season.
Ranked one of the top tournaments of the year and held in the capital’s imposing Bercy Indoor arena, the Paris Masters in recent years has found itself under increasing pressure from the season-ending ATP Tour Championship in London.
“The move to have a shorter season has seen the ATP bring forward the date of the London tournament and for us to remain stuck on the back of that is extremely dangerous for us,” said tournament director Guy Forget.
“We have to find a solution to this and get away from this date and I hope the ATP will take a decision at this year’s tournament (held from October 27-November 4).”
Forget, who won the Paris Masters title in 1991 and who has just stood down as France’s Davis Cup captain, said several new dates would be considered but that he favoured February.
“For sure, that means it will be held just after the Australian Open, but at the start of the season the players are more rested and at the moment most of the top players are European.
“It would be more complicated if the top four players were all American.”
