Stefanos Tsitsipas has voiced concerns about the quality of two-week ATP Masters 1000 events, suggesting that they compromise players' recovery and training. He believes the extended tournaments do not allow adequate time for rest and intense off-court preparation, which is necessary for maintaining peak performance throughout the long season. Tsitsipas echoed former player Andy Roddick’s criticism that such events increase the likelihood of injuries and leave players without sufficient recovery periods between matches.
Earlier this year, the ATP announced that from 2025, seven of the nine Masters tournaments would span 12 days. However, this decision has been met with resistance from players, including Tsitsipas, who feels the extended format results in a drop in the overall quality of play. He praised the Paris Masters for its shorter, one-week format, calling it "exciting and easy to follow," and criticized the move to extend the Masters events as a misguided attempt to fix something that wasn't broken.
Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has also voiced frustration with the packed tennis calendar. He expressed that the tight schedule makes it difficult to stay motivated and increases the risk of injuries. Alcaraz admitted to struggling with motivation at times, especially when faced with back-to-back tournaments and insufficient time to rest between them, highlighting the challenges players face with limited off-weeks.
Alexander Zverev has offered a different perspective, acknowledging that while the two-week events benefit lower-ranked players by providing them with valuable opportunities to compete in main-draw tournaments, the schedule is not ideal for top-ranked players. Zverev explained that the lack of true rest during such events, despite having a day between matches, means players are away from home and their families for extended periods, which can be physically and mentally draining.
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