As the tennis schedule debate continues Paul Annacone was encouraged by Jannik Sinner’s thoughts on the matter.
2024 has been a hectic season for those on the ATP and WTA Tour, and some players have complained about how many events were played within a short timeframe.
The Paris Olympic Games already added to a jam-packed summer which included the French Open, Wimbledon and concluded with the US Open.
As some expressed their displeasure with the gruelling schedule, World number one Jannik Sinner took a different approach, which Annacone liked.
Paul Annacone is pleased with Jannik Sinner’s tennis schedule comments
In addition to a full spring clay court swing and congested summer, the schedule only intensified in September and October.
The Davis Cup group stages commenced just two days after the US Open had concluded and less than a week after that event, the Laver Cup took place.
The likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Jack Draper have all voiced their concerns with the schedule, but Sinner claimed his peers should just pick and choose which events they compete in if they feel this way.
These comments pleased Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone, but he also udnerstood those who may not see things from the Italian’s point of view.
“One thing I loved what Jannik Sinner saying that it’s a lot of tennis, there’s a lot of tournaments, but if you don’t want to play, don’t play,” he told Tennis Channel:
“It’s easier when you are number one in the world, obviously, but if you are right around the cusp of making year end championships or meet commitments in terms of team sponsorship partnerships it’s very difficult to figure out when not to play.
“It’s not as cut and dry as if you don’t want to play, don’t play, but the structure is really fractured and always has been.”
What did other players say about the tennis schedule?
Ahead of making his Laver Cup debut, Alcaraz said the tennis schedule is ‘killing’ the players after the quick turnaround between the US Open and Davis Cup, before heading to Germany to represent Team Europe in the Laver Cup.
Furthermore, Draper claimed he’d had no time off for months as the relentless schedule took its toll on the players physically and mentally.
Back in August, Swiatek did not hold back on her thoughts about the schedule as she called for players to have more rest. “What can I say? I’ve been kind of an advocate in saying that we shouldn’t, I don’t know… be pushing and pushing for us to play more,” she said.
“Obviously it is not our decision. But for sure I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It’s not going to end well.
“It makes tennis less fun for us. Obviously, I love playing in all these places, but it’s pretty exhausting. Most of the players will tell you that. Especially when you are playing at the higher level and going to the end of tournaments.
“I don’t think it should be like that because we deserve to rest a little bit more. Maybe people are going to hate me for saying that. I’m asking for rest.”
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