Former British No.1 Tim Henman has publicly urged the ATP to rethink its schedule, arguing that the current 12‑day format for Masters 1000 events imposes an excessive workload on the modern professional. In a candid interview, Henman, who captured the Paris Masters title in 2003, described the elongated tournaments as "too much tennis" and warned that the relentless travel and match volume are contributing to a surge in injuries across the tour. His comments come amid a string of high‑profile withdrawals and extended absences that have plagued the 2026 season.
World No.1 Jannik Sinner, for instance, will miss the upcoming China Open because a knee injury sustained after Wimbledon has forced him into a longer than expected recovery period. Spain's rising star Carlos Alcaraz has also been sidelined, missing both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a lingering wrist problem. In the women’s game, Britain’s Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have each endured lengthy spells away from competition, underscoring the broader trend of fatigue and injury.
The ATP’s calendar currently mandates participation in eight of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments for most top‑ranked players, in addition to four ATP 500 events. Over recent years, many of those Masters 1000 stops have expanded from the traditional nine‑day format to a twelve‑day affair, a change that has drawn criticism from players who feel the extended schedule erodes valuable rest periods and increases travel time. Henman, who reached a career‑high ranking of world No.4, believes the solution lies in trimming the Masters 1000 weeks to eight or nine days.
"That would free up the calendar and give players a chance to recover," he said. He also suggested a more radical rule change: eliminating the let serve. "Every other shot can hit the top of the net, go over and in, so I would get rid of it and play it as it comes," Henman argued, positioning the proposal as a way to speed up play and reduce match length. Alcaraz, who made his return to the US Open quarter‑finals after a hiatus that began at the Barcelona Open in April, echoed the sentiment that the schedule is unsustainable.
Speaking in New York, the Spaniard admitted his break was longer than anticipated and pledged to incorporate longer rest periods in the future. "Maybe not four months, but one or two months, skipping certain tournaments, because it's impossible to play them all," he explained. During the Laver Cup, which saw Team Europe claim victory, Alcaraz expanded on the evolving nature of the sport.
He noted changes in ball technology, court speed, and playing style, all of which demand more intensive physical preparation. "We need weeks to practice and to make the physical training," he said, adding that the growing number of high‑stakes events forces players to compete more often, heightening the need for scheduled breaks. He called on ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi to take decisive action if the tour wishes to preserve player longevity.
Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli also expressed reservations about the sheer number of days spent at a single tournament. "If you look at the number of tournaments and the number of matches we play during the year, it's not that high. We're used to playing that much. The only thing we're not used to is staying at a tournament for so many days," he remarked.
Cobolli highlighted that despite being on the road for over a month and a half, he would have played fewer than ten matches, suggesting that the extended format adds little competitive value while increasing fatigue. Veteran doubles specialist Jamie Murray, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, offered a perspective rooted in experience. He said, "I can totally understand it from the players' perspective. The Tour is longer than it's ever been in terms of commitment and days away from home." Murray pointed out that younger players are observing how legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stretched their careers by carefully selecting events later in life.
"If they want to play until they're 34, 35, 36, they will probably have to skip tournaments and that's something the Tour needs to consider," he warned. The collective voice of these players underscores a growing consensus: the modern tennis calendar, with its expanded Masters 1000 weeks and packed slate of mandatory events, is placing unsustainable demands on athletes.
Injuries that keep top talent out of Grand Slams and premier tournaments not only affect individual careers but also diminish the sport’s appeal to fans. Industry analysts suggest that a restructured schedule could involve shortening Masters 1000 events back to a nine‑day format, reducing mandatory commitments, and perhaps introducing more flexible entry criteria for older players.
Others propose a rotating system where certain Masters 1000 stops are optional in a given year, allowing players to plan rest periods more strategically. While the ATP has not yet announced concrete reforms, the mounting pressure from former champions, current stars, and emerging talents may compel the governing body to act.
A balanced calendar that safeguards player health while preserving the sport’s competitive integrity could ultimately benefit everyone—from the athletes on the court to the global audience that follows their journeys. For those interested in following the ongoing debate and watching live matches, streaming options remain available on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which continue to broadcast events like the WTA China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.