With a packed tennis schedule causing huge amounts of controversy, Mark Petchey is the latest person to wade into this ongoing ATP saga.
It’s a conversation that crops up nearly every year, often during this mini period after the US Open.
Players finally have a breather after a relentless North American hard-court swing comes to an end, and with the Olympics this year too, many are struggling more than ever .
Now with a number of important events in Asia already up and running, the recent exhibition event, the Laver Cup, saw heaps of drama develop on and off the court.
Team World captain John McEnroe suggested an ATP boycott as he re-opened this can of worms.
Mark Petchey suggest new ATP and WTA tennis calendar amid scheduling drama
Iga Swiatek raised issues over WTA scheduling back in August, with the world number one complaining of the tour’s lack of concern for player welfare.
At the Laver Cup, Carlos Alcaraz claimed the ATP were going to ‘kill’ players as he blasted the tour for organising such a packed schedule.
Mark Petchey, Andy Murray’s former coach, posted on X a new suggestion for how the tennis calendar should be organised.
He wrote: “Obvious to everyone there should be a mid season break. Nothing after Wimbledon till 2 weeks before the US Open. Give fans and players a chance to recharge.
“They run the season till end of October/first week November. Give players complete rest. Restart in Australia”
World number one Jannik Sinner responded to Alcaraz’s claims on Wednesday, saying “As a player, you can still choose.”
The tennis calendar is currently unsustainable for ATP and WTA players
Sinner is spot on in many ways – players do have the ability to choose, with many doing so. Swiatek withdrew from Beijing along with a third consecutive WTA withdrawal for an out-of-sorts Elena Rybakina.
Moreover, it’s worth saying that the Laver Cup players now complaining of a packed schedule arguably should’ve simply not played the exhibition event in Berlin mere days before heading to Asia.
Players often compete across multiple continents in short timeframes, leading to physical and mental burnout, as well as players having to compete with jet-lag.
The lack of an off-season, with tournaments scheduled year-round, leaves little recovery time.
Injuries are common, as players struggle to maintain peak performance throughout the year, with Alexander Zverev recent China Open withdrawal down to a new concerning health diagnosis.
The environmental impact of constant international travel is also a growing concern. .
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