Alexander Zverev isn’t holding back. The German tennis star recently expressed strong criticism toward the ATP‘s expanding calendar, particularly the shift toward two-week Masters 1000 tournaments.
In a candid interview, Zverev addressed how the current scheduling has made it almost impossible for top players to adopt a more measured, Grand Slam-focused approach. “I would love to play 15 to 18 tournaments and peak at the Slams,” he said. “But with how the ATP has structured the schedule, that’s just not realistic anymore.”
That’s not all, Zverev further pointed out that nine Masters 1000 events are now mandatory, with most spanning two weeks. “Except Monte Carlo and Paris Bercy—which, honestly, are my favorite because you’re in and out,” he noted.
“Paris was awesome last year. I won it, which obviously made it better,” he added with a laugh. “You play your five matches, you’re done. You don’t have to wait around or over-practice between rounds.”
Additionally, he argues that the traditional one-week format was more effective for both athletes and fans. “This was how Masters used to be—and players really liked that,” he said.
For the uninitiated, adding to the pressure, the ATP has increased the required 500-level events from three to four. Zverev explained that this forces most players to play around 20 tournaments a year, unless they begin pulling out of big events.
Zverev also shed light on how this crowded schedule is impacting the off-season. “Take Alex de Minaur last year—he played his last match on November 25th and started again on December 27th,” Alexander Zverev said. “That’s a month. How do you take time off, recover, train properly, and prepare for a new season in just four weeks?”
He called on the ATP to reassess its approach, questioning whether the current model is truly sustainable. “Honestly, I haven’t spoken to a single player who likes the two-week Masters format. I don’t even think fans like it. They hate waiting two or three days to see their favorite player again.”
While acknowledging that tennis is a business, Zverev was blunt: “I’m just not sure this business plan is working very well right now.”
With that being said, there is no denying that as the sport grows and adapts, the conversation around scheduling is far from over.