By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, October 6, 2024
Masters and majors are growing—and that will benefit long-term health of players, asserts ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.
Meeting the media at the Rolex Shanghai Masters today, Gaudenzi was asked if there’s a concern expanding the length of Masters 1000 and Grand Slam tournaments could strain players.
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Earlier this week, officials announced the 2024 Australian Open will feature a historic Sunday start and join Roland Garros as the second Grand Slam to expand to 15 days rather than the traditional 14 days. We’ve also seen Masters 1000 events expand with the Miami Open going to a Sunday start.
Former French Open finalist and long-time standout coach Magnus Norman is concerned expanding tournaments could be a health hazard to players. Norman points out longer tournaments mean more practice and preparation time as well as more days on the road which makes him “worried for players physical and perhaps even more mental health.”
Masters 1000 from 7 to 10 days. Grand Slam from 14 to 15 days. Tennis just adds more and more. 25 years ago topic among players were IW and Miami to long of a swing. Worried for players physical and perhaps even more mental health
— Magnus Norman (@normansweden) October 3, 2023
A former ATP player, Gaudenzi argues the longer format will actually benefit players by giving them a day off between rounds and shouldn’t impose a major impact since the tournament length primarily impacts players who go deep in the draw whereas players who make early-round exits will basically spend the same amount of time at a tournament.
“This year we have upgraded Madrid, Rome, and Shanghai, but Indian Wells and Miami, they have been already two weeks, 10 to 12 days draws for around 30 years, even when I was around playing,” Gaudenzi told the media in Shanghai. “I strongly believe that players will get adjusted to it. Ultimately, yes, it is longer, but it is longer for the players who actually get to the end of the tournaments because if you lose first, second, or third round, ultimately, it would be a similar amount of days.”
The day of rest and recovery between rounds is a crucial, which makes Gaudenzi “very confident” longer tournaments will be beneficial for players’ mental and physical health.
“But what I really believe is important is now players can have a day off in between matches, and that in the long-term, I think decreases the chances of…
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