Former Wimbledon finalist Cedric Pioline has called on tennis bosses to suspend players who drop out of major tournaments with last-minute excuses.
Just as happened a year ago, the Paris Masters event, for which Pioline is the tournament co-director, has been hit by a succession of withdrawals, the latest being world number one Roger Federer.
The Swiss star telephoned Pioline early Monday - the opening day of the tournament - to complain he was suffering from fatigue and would not be attending.
Over the weekend, world number two and French Open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out citing a stomach injury while world number three David Nalbandian withdrew with gastro-enteritis. "The only penalty of any use is a suspension. That's the only thing the players will understand because financial penalties don't make any difference," moaned Pioline when asked what needed to be done to stem the tide of withdrawals.
In an interview in the official media guide for the tournament, Pioline says he hopes Federer or Nadal could win the tournament to increase its stature, but that will not happen now. And the 37-year-old Pioline, twice a Davis Cup winner with France, is adamant that changes need to be made by new ATP chairman Etienne De Villiers.
He was quick to react to the news of Federer's withdrawal. "I am both deeply disappointed and concerned by the depletion in the player field for one of ATP's most prestigious events," said De Villiers. "Unfortunately this is the third year that withdrawals and injuries have hurt the event and the fans' opportunity to see all their tennis idols.
"This reinforces my determination to introduce meaningful change to the calendar, the structure, the incentives and sanctions needed to have healthy, motivated top players grace our top events." Players are allowed two withdrawals from the nine Masters Series events without picking up any penalty and that is something Pioline wants changed.