World No. 3 Alexander Zverev recently criticized the ATP’s two-week format for Masters 1000 events. He also voiced concerns over the body’s recent rule mandating participation in four 500-level events, the packed calendar, and the limited time players have to recover and prepare between tournaments.
Zverev’s remarks came amid mounting concerns among players regarding scheduling. Several top names, including Alex de Minaur, WTA World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz, have also spoken out about the demanding calendar and the burnout it often leads to.
Alexander Zverev Gives His Candid Take on the ATP Schedule and New Expanded Mandate
The Association of Tennis Professionals recently introduced a new set of rules regarding player participation on tour. These include eight mandatory Masters 1000 events (excluding Monte Carlo), compulsory participation in all four Grand Slams, and four ATP 500 events, at least one of which must be played after the US Open.
Zverev recently appeared for a virtual interview on The Nothing Major Show, hosted by former American tennis players Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock. The German used the platform to candidly criticize the ATP’s new rule mandating participation in four 500-level events instead of three, arguing that it leaves players with almost no room to play fewer than 20 tournaments annually.
“Now the ATP has made four mandatory 500 events for you to play like which used to be three, now it’s four. So, you kind of don’t really get under 20 events, except if you are pulling out of those big events,” he said.
The World No. 3 also cited Alex de Minaur’s schedule from last year to illustrate how players are left with an inadequate offseason.
“I’m not a fan of where this is going because if you take Alex De Minaur, for example, last year, he played his last match at Davis Cup, I think the 25th of November, and played the first match at United Cup this year, the 27th of December,” he said.
“So you have a month of offseason like how you going to take two weeks off? How you going to prepare your body for new season, how you going to train enough tennis?” He added.
The ATP has faced repeated criticism for its packed schedule, often leading players to skip important tournaments, like recently Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic did before the Canadian Open. In fact, after his shocking exit from the French Open earlier this year, De Minaur admitted it stemmed from burnout.
Zverev Urges the ATP To Find a Solution While Criticizing Two-Week Masters Event
Later in the conversation, Zverev voiced his frustration with the extended format and called on the ATP to reconsider, stating that neither players nor fans appear to favor the two-week structure.
“You don’t have the time to do all those things anymore. I think this is one subject where ATP has to really think about it and kind of find a solution a little bit as well. And to be honest, I’ve not heard a single player say that they love the two-week masters event. I don’t even think fans like that,” he said.
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The ATP first introduced the two-week Masters 1000 format in Miami in 1997, followed by Indian Wells in 2004. In 2023, the extended 12-day format was adopted in Madrid, Rome, and Shanghai. This year, it was also implemented at the Canadian Open and will be introduced at the Cincinnati Open. Zverev concluded by stating:
“They don’t like waiting for two days for their favorite player to play again. I understand that tennis is a business, but I am not sure that business plan is working very well right now.”
Zverev is making steady progress at the ongoing Canadian Open, having reached the fourth round. He will face Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo, and a spot in the quarterfinals is at stake.
