![The Backboard: Kei Nishikori, Artificial Turf, American men’s tennis, Indian Wells and more](http://www.changeovertennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The_Backboard_logo_2-150x150.png)
The Backboard: Kei Nishikori, Artificial Turf, American men’s tennis, Indian Wells and more
Welcome to Stray Shots, the new home for some of my tennis thoughts and musings. This column will appear every Monday here at The Changeover. Let’s get started!
![2012 Masters 1000 Power Rankings: The Good, The Bad, and The Random](http://www.changeovertennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-12-23_1353.png)
2012 Masters 1000 Power Rankings: The Good, The Bad, and The Random
I love the ATP Masters 1000. They’re a genius idea: you make a set number of events mandatory for the top guys, you dump a ton of money on them, and then you sit back and enjoy the fireworks.