Proposal to change Women's Singles ITST Layout

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

I have a couple of ideas to make the Women's Tour more interesting and involving for the 12 or so players that actually want to still play women's singles tournaments on TS3.

I've written out two themes for the tour, a Round Robin format and a Loser's Bracket (LB) format. Both RR and LB would give the participants in the WS Tour more play time and more matches per tournament per year, and even if you'd have to shrink the seasons to make it a semi-annual term so be it, because the tournaments would be much more intricate.

Wanna hear more??????? (say yes...come on I have the paper with the details right in front of me

[beltic caldy]

Tell us more!

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

OK beltic caldy!! ...no need to twist my arm

The point system is going to be different and slightly more balanced for the new tour... Looking at the Aussie Open when it was open for signup, the first round received 5 points and the second round (QF) received like 300. But the point system is to be discussed.

Theme 1: Round Robin

If there's 8 players entered in a tourney, seeds 1 & 2 go into opposite groups (A and B). Seed 3 is randomly selected to go into group A or B, seed 4 going into the opposite group. We all know how this primarily works, as seen in the WTA Championships and the ATP Finals. With RR, though, ideally you'd want an even number of players like say 8.

In the case of 9 entries, one group would have 5 players and the other 4, and the 2 players with the best winning numbers of matches, sets, and games advances to the SFs to play in single elimination format. With 10 to 11 entries, the top 3 are selected from each group, and there would still be two groups (A & B...Ketchup and Mustard...). The top player from each group with the best winning numbers gets a bye into the SF, and the rest is played single-elimination style. With 12 to 16 entries, there are 4 groups of 3 (max 12 entries) or 4 (max 16 entries) and the process is the same. The top two players in each group advance to the single elimination draw.

The upside of RR format is the limited WS players benefit from playing more matches. The downside is it's a lot to keep track of by the tourney director.

Theme 2: Loser's Bracket (LB)

The LB theme is much more simple. The primary rule: Lose 2 matches and you're done...out...finished...kaput. In the case of 8 entries, the main draw (single elimination) progresses as usual. The 4 Round 1 Losers play a R1-LB Playoff, with the winner playing the loser of the SF-LB match. The winner of this match gets an opportunity to play the loser of the final. For 16 entries the process is virtually the same, only now there's a R1-LB Playoff AND a QF-LB Playoff. The R1-LB Playoff winner would play the QF-LB Playoff winner, and so on and so forth.

Next post is an example of the LB Theme.

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

LB THEME DIAGRAM A: 8 Entries

[1] S.Graf
[2] M.Seles
[3] L.Davenport
[4] J.Capriati
[5] M.Sharapova
[6] S.Williams
[7] E.Goolagong
[8] A.Kournikova (womp!!)

[1]\\
-----[1]\\
[5]//----\\
-----------[1]\\
[7]\\----//----\\
-----[3]//------\\
[3]//------------\\
-------------------[2] - Winner!! Yay Seles
[4]\\------------//
-----[4]\\------//
[8]//----\\----//
-----------[2]//
[6]\\----//
-----[2]//
[2]//

Now, based on this draw, [5] vs [7], and [8] vs [6] would be matches in the R1-LB Playoff. Say for example [5] M.Sharapova wins both of her playoff matches (defeats [7] Goolagong, then defeats [6] S.Williams who won her playoff match against [8]).

Next, [3] would play [4] in the SF-LB match. [4] Capriati pulls that one out (Go Jen...)

[5] M.Sharapova would then play [4] J.Capriati for a chance to challenge the loser of the final [1] S.Graf. [5] beats [4] for the challenge, and then [1] Graf cuts [5] Sharapova down with her brutal backhand slice and wins the LB. The tournament winners would be [2] Seles, and [1] Graf would receive substantial points for winning the LB.

This is still under development but the winner's point gain would have to be greater than the winner of the LB, even if she comes from the R1-LB playoff to win the LB. There has to be a big enough reward, however, to make the LB worth going for.

So, what are we thinking?

[beltic caldy]

Holy crows....given this much thought....!? Impressive! Senior ITST folk....what think thee? I haven't read it yet man, sorry - Dolgo just earned a great break point.....!

[kiensabeq]

It's a good idea, I want to play in women's tour

[willjonesjrSUSPENDED]

DJARVIK where are you? We need your guidance. Dubz is on to something here.

[Cro Morgan]

Interesting ideas but the ITST will continue to replicate the ATP and WTA tours. It's what we do (and what the site is programmed to do).

When TS4 arrives, I'm sure the women's tour will find new life in it's current format.

[beltic caldy]

who coded it all Cro? Perhaps there's scope for this format (these formats?!) to run in parallel?

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

Interesting ideas but the ITST will continue to replicate the ATP and WTA tours. It's what we do (and what the site is programmed to do).

When TS4 arrives, I'm sure the women's tour will find new life in it's current format.

True and I hope it does... but if enough people are interested do u think it's worth giving it a shot? I'd hate for the WS Tour to go down in flames the way it has on TS3...

[Cro Morgan]

Interesting ideas but the ITST will continue to replicate the ATP and WTA tours. It's what we do (and what the site is programmed to do).

When TS4 arrives, I'm sure the women's tour will find new life in it's current format.

True and I hope it does... but if enough people are interested do u think it's worth giving it a shot? I'd hate for the WS Tour to go down in flames the way it has on TS3...

The women's game will never be as popular as the men, but if TS4 delivers, I can virtually guarantee that the ladies tour will be rock solid, from April and beyond. No worries.

who coded it all Cro? Perhaps there's scope for this format (these formats?!) to run in parallel?

Honestly, coding isn't the real issue. Fact is, we pride ourselves on replicating - to the largest extent possible - the real-life ATP and WTA tours. It's what sets us apart from other gaming sites. Bottom line: the deeper we can delve into a fantasy tennis world, the better.

[Andymachine]

For something like this to work there has to be either more women or guys interested in womens tennis for it to work , its mostly guys i think that play on here , so its unlikely to work

p.s Womens tennis is not exactly exciting so its not really gonna be a big goer

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

Honestly, coding isn't the real issue. Fact is, we pride ourselves on replicating - to the largest extent possible - the real-life ATP and WTA tours. It's what sets us apart from other gaming sites. Bottom line: the deeper we can delve into a fantasy tennis world, the better.

Aaaahhh since you put it like that Cro I understand...

For something like this to work there has to be either more women or guys interested in womens tennis for it to work , its mostly guys i think that play on here , so its unlikely to work

p.s Womens tennis is not exactly exciting so its not really gonna be a big goer

To you Andy lol...I like women's tennis n I feel there are other dudes on here that enjoy it as well (clearly not as much as the mens tennis tho, no). Aside from that I find the women's tennis is easier to play on TS3 in terms of timing (for one) and to me it's a good tune-up for the men's events.

What I'm primarily worried, which Cro addressed, was the gradual decrease of interest that happened in TS3, and even if there are 8 players in the draw for the Sony Ericsson Open, I feel the WS tournament should go on because there's still ppl who want to play in TS3. In terms of TS4 I REALLY hope there's a better interest rate (:lol:) than there is right now...because the AO got cancelled

[SlicerITST]

Interesting ideas for sure. I actually love the loser brackets idea. Although id stop it sooner then the loser of the final cause he will win it 9 out of 10 times. Personally i could be persuaded to see this as an option for ÏTST because it would address a problem we face. The problem is that new players have a hard time breaking through the first rounds and basically play 1 ITST match a week. Thats often not enough for them to get hooked.

But for the TS3 WS tour this will not solve anything. The problem is not that new players are not sticking with the tour. The problem is that players are stopping to play TS3(WS and other tours) and on the other end there are no players emerging anymore. The WS tour feels this first because it is the smallest tour. But when TS4 hits we will have 64 draws for womens grand slams again. (hoping for 128 draws ).

[djarvik]

Please also remember this, if we get (and I am sure we will) good turn out rate for TS4, then we will be running Challengers and even Futures! This should assure at least 2 matches a week for new players, assuming they lose both.

I love the idea as well, but I agree with Cro. As far as ITST Tour goes, it has to keep the fantasy alive, we must follow the real ATP/WTA rules and schedule. This is what makes us Special.

I think the turnout for the next year for TS4 when it comes out will be enough to run Challengers and Futures. Everyone will play, for sure.


Good stuff thou! I like it.