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 tournaments places an excessive burden on players.
In his view, the extended week‑long events, combined with a packed calendar of mandatory tournaments, are a key factor behind the rising injury rates that have plagued the sport in recent years. Henman, who captured the Paris Masters title in 2003 and once reached a career‑high ranking of world No. 4, said the situation is "pretty well documented": the 12‑day Masters 1000s simply involve too much tennis, too much travel, and consequently too many physical stresses. He suggested trimming the duration of these events to eight or nine days, which he believes would free up the calendar and give players a chance to recover between commitments.
The former British star also floated 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," he explained, hinting that a simpler rule set could speed up matches and reduce unnecessary strain. Henman's comments come against a backdrop of high‑profile injuries that have sidelined several top players this season. World No.
1 Jannik Sinner announced that he will miss the upcoming China Open because a knee injury has kept him out since Wimbledon. Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a lingering wrist problem, and Britain's own Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have each endured lengthy absences in 2026.
Alcaraz, who returned to the US Open quarter‑finals after a five‑month hiatus that began at the Barcelona Open in April, spoke candidly about the toll of the schedule. "Honestly, my break was longer than expected," he told reporters in New York. "Given the packed schedule, I obviously didn't want to stop because of an injury.
However, in the future I will take longer breaks – maybe one or two months, skipping certain tournaments – because it's impossible to play them all." He added that the modern game has evolved dramatically, with faster courts, new ball designs, and a more aggressive style of play demanding greater physical preparation. "We need weeks to practice and to do the physical training," Alcaraz said after the Laver Cup, which Team Europe won.
"There are more important tournaments making us play more and more, so I really want to take breaks. If the ATP and chairman Andrea Gaudenzi have to do something to protect us, they should." Other players echo Henman's concerns. Italian youngster Flavio Cobolli reflected on the grueling nature of the tour, noting that while the total number of matches may not seem excessive, the length of stay at a single event has increased dramatically. "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 said. Cobolli, who has spent nearly six weeks away from home, pointed out that even with a reduced schedule he would still play fewer than ten matches at a typical Masters 1000. Former doubles champion Jamie Murray, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, expressed empathy for the players' perspective.
"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 remarked.
He highlighted how modern stars such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have managed to extend their careers by selectively skipping events, a strategy that younger players may need to adopt if they aim to compete into their mid‑30s. "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," Murray added. The ATP currently mandates participation in eight of the nine Masters 1000 events for most top‑ranked players, alongside four ATP 500 tournaments.
The expansion of many Masters 1000s to a 12‑day format has become a bone of contention, with players and former champions alike calling for a more balanced approach that prioritises health and longevity over sheer volume of matches. In summary, Tim Henman's plea for a shorter Masters 1000 schedule, combined with suggestions to simplify the serve rule, reflects a growing chorus within the tennis community demanding structural reform.
As injuries continue to sideline marquee names and emerging talents voice their fatigue, the governing bodies face mounting pressure to adapt the calendar in a way that safeguards player welfare while preserving the sport's competitive spirit.