Stefanos Tsitsipas criticises ATP’s ‘backwards move’ over Masters 1000 changes
Stefanos Tsitsipas has directed a scathing message at ATP Tour chiefs over their decision to change the format of Masters 1000 tournaments.
The Greek star argued the “backwards move” has turned Masters events into “a drag” and lowered the quality.
In 2023, the ATP extended the Masters 1000 events in Madrid, Rome and Shanghai to two weeks (12 days) and increased the number of players in the singles draws to 96.
This year, the same expansion was applied to tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai, while it will also happen to the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters from 2025.
Prior to the changes, seven of the nine Masters tournaments were played over a week and featured 56-player singles draws, with Indian Wells and Miami each lasting 10 days.
The Masters events in Monte Carlo and Paris are the only two tournaments in this category that will retain the single-week format.
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Many players and fans have been critical of the new Masters 1000 format, with Tsitispas the latest detractor.
In a post on X, Tsitsipas hit out at the ATP Tour and outlined the negative effects he feels the move has had.
“The two-week Masters 1000s have turned into a drag. The quality has definitely dropped,” the world No 12 wrote.
“Players aren’t getting the recovery or training time they need, with constant matches and no space for the intense work off the court.
“It’s ironic that the @atptour committed to this format without knowing if it could actually improve the schedule, but the quality likewise. Paris got it right, done in a week. Exciting and easy to follow. Just how it’s supposed to be.
“If the goal was to ease the calendar, extending every 1000 to two weeks is a backwards move. Sometimes, it feels like they’re fixing what wasn’t broken.”
Tsitsipas was beaten by eventual winner Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals at last week’s Paris Masters in what was likely his final match of the 2024 season.
The two-time major finalist is the second alternate at the ATP Finals, so he could feature in Turin if players withdraw.
The 26-year-old, a who won the ATP Finals on his debut in 2019, qualified for the previous five editions of the year-end championships.
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