Former British No. 1 Tim Henman has publicly urged the ATP to rethink the current tournament schedule, arguing that the 12‑day format of the Masters 1000 events forces players into an unsustainable amount of tennis.
Henman, who lifted the Paris Masters trophy in 2003, highlighted the growing injury crisis among the sport’s elite and suggested that trimming the Masters weeks to eight or nine days could relieve the pressure on athletes and reduce time spent travelling. Henman's comments come amid a string of high‑profile withdrawals and extended absences caused by injuries. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner confirmed he will miss the upcoming China Open because his knee has not recovered sufficiently since Wimbledon, while Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz was forced out of both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a lingering wrist problem.
In the women’s game, Britain’s Emma Raducanu and fellow Brit Jack Draper have also endured long spells on the sidelines throughout the 2026 season. The ATP’s calendar currently mandates eight of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments for the top players, in addition to four ATP 500 events. Over recent years, many of those Masters stops have expanded to a two‑week, 12‑day format, a development that has drawn criticism from players who feel the schedule leaves little room for rest or recovery. Henman, a former world No.
4, believes the length of these events is a core issue. "It’s been well documented that the 12‑day Masters 1000s are simply too much tennis," Henman said in a recent interview. "The travel demands are enormous, and we’re seeing a surge in injuries as a result. Reducing the tournaments to eight or nine days would free up the calendar and give players the breathing space they need." He went further, suggesting a rule change that would eliminate the let serve rule, arguing that any serve that clips the net and lands in the correct service box should be played as a normal point.
"Every other shot can hit the top of the net, go over and in, so why not the serve? It would speed up play and reduce unnecessary delays," Henman added.
Alcaraz, who made his return to the US Open quarter‑finals after a wrist injury that kept him out since the Barcelona Open in April, echoed the sentiment of needing longer breaks. Speaking in New York, the Spaniard admitted his recovery period was longer than anticipated and pledged to schedule longer off‑seasons in the future. "Given the packed schedule, I didn’t want to stop 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," Alcaraz explained. He also noted that the modern game has evolved, with faster courts, new ball specifications, and a more aggressive style of play that demands greater physical preparation.
At the Laver Cup, where Team Europe emerged victorious, Alcaraz warned that the ATP and its chairman Andrea Gaudenzi must address the demanding calendar if they wish to keep top players on the tour. "We need weeks to train, to recover, and to adapt to the changing conditions. The schedule is forcing us to play more and more important tournaments without adequate rest," he said. Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli shared similar concerns about the length of tournaments.
"We’re used to playing a lot of matches, but staying at a single event for so many days is new," he told reporters. Cobolli, who has been away from home for nearly six weeks, noted that even with a reduced match load he would still be competing in fewer than ten matches during that stretch, highlighting how the extended format inflates time away from family and personal life. Veteran doubles specialist Jamie Murray also voiced support for a more player‑friendly calendar.
In an interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Murray said, "The tour is longer than ever in terms of commitment and days away from home. Younger players see how Federer and Nadal stretched their careers, and if they want to play into their mid‑30s they’ll have to start skipping events. The tour needs to consider that reality." The collective message from Henman, Alcaraz, Cobolli, Murray and others is clear: the modern tennis calendar, with its elongated Masters 1000 weeks and packed schedule of mandatory events, is contributing to a rising tide of injuries and burnout. Players are calling for a reassessment that balances the commercial interests of the sport with the health and longevity of its competitors.
Potential solutions discussed include shortening Masters 1000 tournaments to eight or nine days, reducing the number of mandatory ATP 500 events, and allowing more flexibility for players to skip certain weeks without penalty. Some have even suggested a more radical overhaul, such as a rotating schedule where only a subset of top players are required to attend each Masters stop, thereby spreading the workload more evenly across the field. While the ATP has not yet committed to any specific reforms, the growing chorus of player voices is putting pressure on the governing body to act.
If the tour wishes to retain its star power and keep fans engaged, it may need to prioritize player welfare alongside the sport’s commercial ambitions. For viewers, the ongoing debate underscores the importance of supporting the athletes who bring tennis to life on court. Whether watching live on Sky Sports, streaming via the NOW platform, or following highlights online, fans can play a part by advocating for a schedule that safeguards the health of the sport’s biggest names.