Daria Kasatkina, the highest-ranked female tennis player from Russia, stood in the corridors of La Caja Mágica hours after winning her first match in Madrid and described how she was coping with the mental exhaustion she had developed after years of being a hamster on the wheel of professional tennis.
Then, she was asked how the addition of a week to the length of large tournaments has affected her emotions. “It affects the payment of the hamster,” she said with a laugh. “The poor hamster must work harder for the same pay. Poor hamster.”
Since 2009, Madrid’s southern barrios have hosted the 1000 tournaments for the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), but this year everything changed. The Madrid Open is now a two-week event, with 12 days of main-draw play preceded by two qualifying days. The number of singles participants has increased from 56 to 96, mirroring the successful format of the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments.
Its growth indicates that tennis has reached a tipping point. In 2020, former player Andrea Gaudenzi was elected the new chief executive officer of the ATP, which operates the men’s tour.
Gaudenzi acquired the position to radically alter the landscape. He cited the fact that tennis is the fourth most popular sport in the world and its unrealized potential due to its fractious nature.
The primary phase of the ATP’s strategic plan entails expanding prize money with the promise of an annual increase, a new profit-sharing philosophy between ATP players and tournaments, and increased cooperation between the events. The most noticeable change for players and spectators has been the attempt to transform ATP and WTA 1000 events into mini-grand slams.
Next week’s tournament in Rome will also span two weeks, making the two tournaments comparable in duration to Indian Wells and Miami.
Later this year, the Shanghai Masters 1000 will expand, and in 2025, pre-US Open joint events will be held in Canada, alternating between Toronto and Montreal, and Cincinnati.
The primary objective is to increase the prestige and significance of Masters 1000 tournaments, closing the distance with the grand slams. With more days of action for viewers and broadcasters, more revenue will be generated.
Uncertainty exists as to whether all of the proposed alterations will be well received. Compared to grand slam tournaments, the rapid pace of the majority of ATP and WTA 1000 events was a defining trait. Typically, players would gather in Madrid a few days before the main draw, and after two and a half weeks, both Madrid and Rome would be concluded. “Now that is four weeks,” remarks Andy Murray.
The ATP has suggested that the extension of ATP 1000 events will aid in the prevention of injuries, as the longer tournaments will provide players with more days off. “I like it,” says Aryna Sabalenka.
“This is yet another preparation for grand slams. You’re playing 1000 tournaments under the same conditions as a grand slam. So you can prepare for an extended tournament and take an extra day off to conserve energy.”
While the majority of participants emphasized their openness to change and willingness to observe the course of events. They also expressed skepticism. Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked female tennis player, noted that “rest days” amid major tournaments are still work. “If tournaments were shorter, we would have more time between matches to take days off without picking up a racket,” she explains.
Murray takes a similar stance, stating, “Over the years, and I don’t mean recently, I’ve heard several players, not just recently, talk about how long the season is. I do not believe that this necessarily makes it shorter. It’s just a tad more time spent at tournaments and on the road.”
These are issues that predominantly affect the best players in both tournaments. For early losers, who are typically lower-ranked competitors, fewer playing opportunities are a concern. Kasatkina states, “We’re ultimately losing two weeks because we’re playing two tournaments in one month.” “What do you do if you lose the second round?” You have no options. You cannot join any games. Just practice.”
The British No. 1 Cameron Norrie acknowledges the advantages of increased prize money but expresses concern for lower-ranked participants.
He says, “After an early loss, you want to return to the court as quickly as possible. If not, you have plenty of time between.”
Before Gaudenzi’s plan was finalized, there was much discussion about the possibility of ATP 250 events in the second week of these tournaments, but this year early losers like Murray and Tommy Paul were required to step down and accept wildcards into a Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence. Those who lost on the second Monday, however, were forced to wait a week before competing in Rome.
A counterpoint is that there are now more opportunities for lower-ranked players to contend in major tournaments. Daniil Medvedev opines, “It’s more equitable when the draw is that large. As there will be more ranking changes and more players entering in later stages from qualifying.” Overall, I believe it is a positive change, even if it disadvantages the best athletes.”
Aslan Karatsev defeated Medvedev in the fourth round and faced fortunate loser Jan Lennard Struff in the semi-finals on Friday. Last year, Struff and Karatsev’s respective rankings of 103 and 107 would have disqualified them from the qualifying draw. “From one side, it’s long, really long,” says Karatsev. “Nevertheless, you have time to recover. Especially since I’m experiencing the qualities. Therefore, you have some time off in between.”
Even on the expansive grounds of grand slam tournaments, the allocation of practice courts can be a contentious issue. Due to the limited space at La Caja Mágica, some players have had to practice in drastically different conditions elsewhere. In the meantime, the prize money has increased, but travel time has increased expenses.
Kasatkina explains, “They do not assist with hotels.” They performed the opposite. You can inquire with IMG about the hotel rates in Miami and here.
Show me an NH Collection hotel with a nightly rate of €280.”
While the ATP has initiated organizational reform, the WTA has followed suit at the joint event. Kasatkina is primarily concerned with Rome, as opposed to Madrid. Rome is technically categorized as the WTA’s second-largest tournament, formerly known as a Premier 5 event, even though it offers the same amount of prize money as Madrid. In Rome, the total prize money for women will be significantly less than that for males. But it will be presented in the same manner as in Madrid.
As players adapt to the new format, fans will also need to make adjustments. Longer tournaments will undoubtedly attract more observers, but they also require greater fan commitment and effort. Due to seeded players receiving byes, fifty percent of the top men did not play until last Saturday. On the second Monday of the tournament, the men’s competition was still in the third round. It was difficult to avoid the impression that the tournament lasted too long.
The expansion of the Masters 1000 events is only one of the first steps in the ATP’s plans, and as it seeks to win over the players, the next step will be even more difficult: it will attempt to promote close cooperation between the governing bodies and unify a sport that has been fragmented since its inception.
