The extended Masters and WTA 1000 events continue to be a talking point in the tennis world.
Each tournament at this level lasted seven days, but since 2024, selected 1000 events were lengthened and they now last between 10 to 14 days.
This season the Canadian Open was extended to 12 days and it ended on Thursday August 7, an unusual day for a tennis final.
As a result, several high-profile players pulled out of the event and former ATP player Sam Querrey did not hold back on the Canadian Open’s format change.
Sam Querrey says the players and fans don’t like the Canadian Open’s extended format
Top players withdrew from the Canadian Open, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper.
This has hurt the tournament, and the crowds in Toronto will be unable to watch four of the world’s best compete in their city.
This could be due to the tournament being extended for several days, which Sam Querrey does not agree with. The Canadian Open also had a qualifying tournament, which left Querrey stunned.
“The players don’t like it, the fans don’t like it, and now especially in Toronto with Carlos, Novak, Jannik and others pulling out. We just had this great event in DC with an amazing final, and you got to watch Alex, and Shelton and Tiafoe,” the American said.
“There is no momentum going into Toronto. I am not excited as a fan. I’m sure, yes, the players are excited. I’m sure those guys ranked like Zverev, Fritz, Musetti and Shelton, are like I can win this, possibly this year.
“But it just is going to drag on. The next three and a half weeks of tennis is just going to drag on. Cincinnati is going to start while Toronto is still going on. Also Toronto had one round of qualies, I have never seen that before.”
Steve Johnson says the extended Canadian Open ‘does not make any sense’
The likes of Francis Tiafoe and Alcaraz have criticised the extended tennis schedule and the lack of time between certain tournaments.
But these complaints have been heard and now the opposite has taken place as the Canadian Open was extended.
The tournaments are keen on this idea as it means the event stays in their city for a longer period, which increases revenue.
But the final has now been moved to August 7, which is on Thursday, and Nothing Major’s Steve Johnson cannot understand this move.
“It’s insane,” Johnson said. “And also this tournament ends on I believe August 7th, it ends on a Thursday. What Masters event ends on a Thursday? It makes no sense.”
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