Former British No. 1 Tim Henman has publicly urged the governing bodies of men’s tennis to rethink the current schedule, arguing that the 12‑day format of the Masters 1000 tournaments imposes far too much strain on players.
In a candid interview, Henman, who captured the Paris Masters title in 2003, highlighted the growing injury crisis and the relentless travel demands that accompany an increasingly packed calendar. He suggested that shrinking the Masters events to eight or nine days would provide much‑needed breathing room for athletes and help alleviate the physical toll that the sport now exacts.
Henman’s comments come amid a string of high‑profile withdrawals and prolonged absences due to injury. World No.
1 Jannik Sinner, for example, announced that he will be unable to make his planned return at the China Open after a knee problem forced him out of competition following Wimbledon. Similarly, Spain’s rising star Carlos Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon because of a lingering wrist issue, while British talents Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have also endured extended periods on the sidelines during the 2026 season. The ATP’s current structure mandates that eight of the nine Masters 1000 events be played by most top‑ranked players, in addition to four ATP 500 tournaments. Over recent years, many of these Masters events have expanded to a 12‑day format, a change that has been met with criticism from players who feel the longer weeks increase travel time, reduce recovery periods, and contribute to a higher incidence of injuries.
Henman, who reached a career‑high ranking of world No. 4, believes the solution lies in a more compact tournament schedule.
"It’s well documented that the 12‑day Masters 1000s are simply too much tennis," Henman said. "The extended time on the road is exhausting, and we’re seeing a surge in injuries as a result. Reducing the duration to eight or nine days would free up the calendar and give players a chance to recover properly." In addition to his calendar concerns, Henman floated a more radical rule change: the elimination of the let serve.
He argued that allowing a serve that clips the net and lands in the proper service box to be replayed is an outdated practice that unnecessarily interrupts the flow of the game. "Every other shot can hit the top of the net, go over and in, so why not treat the serve the same way?" he suggested, proposing that the point continue as soon as the ball lands in. Alcaraz, who recently returned to competition at the US Open after a lengthy layoff, echoed the sentiment that the tour’s schedule is unsustainable. The Spaniard, who had not played a tournament since the Barcelona Open in April due to his wrist injury, reached the quarter‑finals in New York and used the platform to call for longer breaks between events.
"My break turned out to be longer than I expected," Alcaraz explained. "Given how packed the calendar is, I can’t keep playing without risking further injury.
In the future I’ll aim for one‑ or two‑month breaks, skipping certain tournaments, because it’s impossible to play everything." Speaking at the Laver Cup, which saw Team Europe claim victory, Alcaraz expanded on how the sport has evolved and why rest is now more critical than ever. He noted changes in ball composition, court speed, and the overall aggressiveness of modern play, all of which demand heightened physical preparation. "We need weeks to train, to recover, and to adapt to the faster conditions," he said.
"The tour keeps adding important events, pushing us to play more and more. The ATP and Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi need to address this if they want players to stay healthy and competitive." Other players have voiced similar concerns.
Italy’s Flavio Cobolli reflected on the sheer number of matches and the length of stays at tournaments, saying, "We’re used to playing a lot, but staying at a single event for many days is new. The format has changed, and we’re still adjusting. I’ve been away from home for a month and a half and have played fewer than ten matches in that time." Veteran doubles specialist Jamie Murray, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, underscored the generational shift in expectations. "The tour now demands a longer commitment and more days away from home than ever before," Murray observed.
"Younger players see how Federer and Nadal extended their careers, but they also realize that to stay on the circuit into their mid‑30s they’ll need to skip tournaments. The tour must consider this reality if it wants to retain its top talent." Collectively, these voices paint a picture of a sport at a crossroads. The push for more tournaments, higher prize money, and global exposure has driven the expansion of the calendar, yet the physical realities of elite competition are prompting a reevaluation. Reducing the length of Masters 1000 events, introducing strategic rest periods, and even revisiting longstanding rules like the let serve could help balance the commercial ambitions of the ATP with the health and longevity of its players.
As the conversation continues, fans can stay informed and watch live action through platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which provide coverage of events like the WTA China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters. The hope among players like Henman, Alcaraz, Cobolli, and Murray is that the governing bodies will listen and implement changes that safeguard the future of tennis while preserving the excitement that draws audiences worldwide.