This one fired across my bow–“Why don’t Racquetball pros have to play early rounds like tennis?” Well, Tennis also has qualifiers in big tournaments but more seeded players. It comes down to economics.
How do you get the top players to show up for a tournament?
I can think of two ways-one-Pay more prize money or two-seed the top 8 players in. That makes it more financially feasible for them to attend the tournaments.
Throw in a million prize money and watch the sparks fly! Trust me, the athletes will play early rounds! To make a living players fight for the top 8 spots so they are seeded in and can collect prize money. If you have to qualify to get into the main draw, it can be done but it is harder-a lot harder. But once you get into the “club” you have an easier time theoretically. That theory is shattered when wild card qualies come through the draw and the first rounds become dog fights. You will see the best matches in the first two rounds.
Here is a thought. Instead of raising money to send athletes to a tournament, why not raise money to put into the pot for big prizes? In racquetball’s heydays that is what brought the players in. Money-lots of money! Kind of like capitalism (more prize money-no travel money) vs socialism (more travel money-less prize money) racquetball. And of course we could spread more money throughout the draw which would increase the winner’s share but also the combatants at the lower levels of the draw!