ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has damaged silence on the gamers’ complaints in regards to the schedule, acknowledging that the offseason has turn out to be very quick but in addition highlighting that there are commitments to high tournaments and insisting that heyt cannot do a lot there.
During the last couple of years, there was a whole lot of frustration on the gamers’ aspect over what they imagine is a particularly lengthy and demanding calendar. And it solely acquired worse this yr after the Masters occasions in Madrid and Rome expanded to two-week occasions.
Subsequent yr, the Canadian Masters and the match in Cincinnati are slated to observe the identical route – that may go away Monte Carlo and Paris because the lone one-week Masters occasions. For sure, that did not make gamers completely satisfied in any respect and a few have already strongly criticized the plans for 2025.
One of the vital vocal critics was none apart from four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who provided some damning phrases in regards to the matter, saying “they’re in all probability going to kill us not directly.”
The 2024 season will formally end on November twenty fourth whereas the following season kicks off on December twenty seventh on the United Cup.
“We have now expanded the Masters 1000 and within the 96-draw Masters there’s theoretically yet another match provided that you attain the finaI. I agree with the gamers after they say that the low season is just too quick and the Davis Cup additionally has an influence on this. With the brand new format many gamers play in November, as soon as solely these from the groups that reached the ultimate, the others went on trip. Now you do not have sufficient time to relaxation, rebuild your physique and begin enjoying tennis once more,” Gaudenzi advised SportFace.
Gaudenzi agrees the scenario with tournaments is not very best, however…
Some gamers merely really feel that there isn’t a want for a Masters match to be a two-week match. And whereas the ATP boss understands among the arguments that the gamers have made, he additionally underlines that the Masters class is considered one of their “premium merchandise” so subsequently they want high stars competing there.
“It is a downside and I agree, we’re engaged on it. Nonetheless, the tournaments are owned and since we do not have a centralized system we will not take occasions and transfer them as we like. Then it’s true that there’s an obligation to play the Masters 1000, our premium product. As a result of followers need to see the very best play within the largest tournaments: Slams, Masters 1000 and Finals. That is the product that’s well-liked and must be strengthened, additionally as a result of the hole between Slams and 1000s is important,” Gaudenzi added.
Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas slammed the two-week Masters occasions
After successful Wimbledon and capturing the silver medal on the Paris Olympics, the Spanish tennis star stunningly misplaced his opener on the Cincinnati Masters and likewise shockingly acquired bounced by Botic van de Zandschulp within the US Open second spherical. When he arrived in Berlin for the Laver Cup in late September, the world No. 3 just about blamed the calendar for his poor North American hard-court swing since he mentioned that he was drained and exhausted.
“Most likely they’ll kill us not directly. Proper now a whole lot of good gamers are going to overlook a whole lot of tournaments due to that. Typically, you do not need to go to a match. I am not going to lie — I’ve felt this fashion a couple of instances already. Typically I do not really feel motivated in any respect. However as I’ve mentioned many, many instances, I play my finest tennis once I smile and revel in it on courtroom. That is the best choice to maintain motivating (myself),” Alcaraz mentioned in Berlin.
Just lately, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick sounded off on two-week Masters tournaments on his podcast, ripping them as “so silly” and revealing that he heard it immediately from gamers. Additionally, the previous world No. 1 instructed that the ATP would not actually care in regards to the size of the schedule as a result of “actions converse louder than phrases.”
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Tsitsipas absolutely agreed with Roddick and claimed that the standard and degree had been being negatively impacted by the schedule.
The 2-week Masters 1000s have changed into a drag. The standard has positively dropped. Gamers aren’t getting the restoration or coaching time they want, with fixed matches and no house for the extreme work off the courtroom… If the purpose was to ease the calendar, extending each 1000 to 2 weeks is a backwards transfer. Typically, it seems like they’re fixing what wasn’t damaged,” Tsitsipas wrote on X.
Judging by Gaudenzi’s phrases, there doubtless will not be any calendar modifications that may make gamers happier.
