2008 Calender which squeezed in the Olympics without giving the players any respite was a nightmare. The cruel calender along with mononucleosis was the main reason for poor show for someone like Federer. Nadal, who was at the peak of his prowess and fitness did very well in 2008, but even he is incapable of sustaining the intensity. At 23, he is already a veteran and an 'Old Man', who has seen it all. But as Roddick has pointed out, those who run Tennis also run the tournaments, so the calender is not going to change. It is up to the players to plan their schedules in such a way that they get their due rankings without any appreciable loss to their purse, or vice-versa. They have to decide their own priorities. Roger Federer has opted out of Tokyo and Shanghai, because he does not stand to lose a lot of points by not playing in these tournaments, while getting a well earned rest. Others can follow his example.
