Former British No. 1 Tim Henman has publicly urged the governing bodies of professional tennis to rethink the current schedule, arguing that the 12‑day format of the Masters 1000 events imposes an unsustainable workload on players. Henman, who captured the Paris Masters title in 2003, highlighted the growing number of injuries and extended periods away from home as clear signs that the tour’s calendar is overloaded. The issue comes at a time when several top‑ranked competitors are grappling with serious injuries.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, for instance, announced that he will be unable to return at the China Open as originally planned, having missed competition since Wimbledon due to a knee problem. Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz also missed both the French Open and Wimbledon because of a lingering wrist injury, and British talents Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have endured lengthy absences throughout 2026. Currently, eight of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments are mandatory for the majority of elite players, and they are supplemented by four ATP 500 events.
Over recent seasons, most of these Masters stops have expanded from the traditional nine‑day stretch to a 12‑day affair, a change that many athletes have criticized as a "bone of contention" due to the added travel and recovery demands. Henman’s comments were unequivocal. "It’s been well documented that the 12‑day Masters 1000s are just too much tennis," he said. "The extended time on the road is contributing to the spike in injuries we’re seeing.
I would cut the duration down to eight or nine days, which would free up the calendar and give players a genuine chance to rest." He went further, suggesting that a more radical rule change could also help. "If I had to pick a practical rule adjustment, I would eliminate the let serve," Henman proposed. "Every other shot that hits the top of the net and lands in should count, so we could just play it as it happens." Alcaraz, who only returned to competitive play at the US Open after a long hiatus since the Barcelona Open in April, echoed the sentiment of needing more downtime.
Speaking in New York, the Spaniard admitted his recovery period was longer than anticipated. "Given the packed schedule, I didn’t want to sit out because of an injury, but moving forward I’ll take longer breaks—maybe one or two months, skipping certain events—because it’s impossible to play everything," he explained. At the Laver Cup, which saw Team Europe claim victory, Alcaraz expanded on how the sport has evolved and why rest is crucial. "The balls, the courts, the speed of play—everything has changed.
The game is now more aggressive, and we need weeks to train physically and mentally. With more high‑profile tournaments, the pressure to play continuously is intense, so I really want to incorporate breaks," he said. He also called on ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi to consider reforms that would protect player health while preserving the sport’s competitive integrity.
Other players are voicing similar concerns. Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli reflected on the sheer volume of matches and the extended stays at tournaments. "If you look at the number of tournaments and matches we play in a year, it’s not astronomically high, but we’re not used to staying at a single event for so many days," he remarked. Cobolli added that after being away from home for nearly six weeks, he would have played fewer than ten matches, underscoring the fatigue associated with prolonged tournament blocks.
Veteran doubles specialist Jamie Murray shared his perspective in an interview with Sky Sports Tennis. "I completely understand the players’ point of view.
The tour now demands a longer commitment and more days away from family than ever before," Murray said. He pointed out that younger players are observing the career trajectories of legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who extended their playing years by carefully managing their schedules. "If they aim to compete into their mid‑30s, they’ll need to skip events, and the tour must accommodate that reality," Murray warned.
The collective voice of these athletes suggests a growing consensus that the current structure of the Masters 1000 series—and the broader ATP calendar—may need to be rebalanced. Reducing the duration of each Masters event, providing mandatory rest windows, and possibly revisiting certain rules could help mitigate injury rates and improve overall player welfare.
While the ATP has yet to announce concrete changes, the pressure from former champions, current stars, and emerging talents is mounting. Fans, sponsors, and broadcasters also have a stake in ensuring that the sport remains both competitive and sustainable. As the conversation continues, the tennis world watches closely to see whether the governing bodies will act on these calls for reform, potentially reshaping the professional calendar for years to come.