2024 ATP General News

[mrzz]

Well why do a lot of players who expressed concerns the length of the tennis season keep playing exhibitions, and other tournaments after the season is finished lol! both atp players and wta players

I simply don't listen to players complaining about the lenght of the season, specially top players. They do have control of the number of tournaments that they play. Yes, ATP has a minimum number of mandatory tournaments, but that number is not that large...

Even without the exhos, the same guys that complain play more tournaments than what they are required to play. They want the points and the money. And that's fine, just don't complain about your own choices...

 

[Moxie]

I simply don't listen to players complaining about the lenght of the season, specially top players. They do have control of the number of tournaments that they play. Yes, ATP has a minimum number of mandatory tournaments, but that number is not that large...

Even without the exhos, the same guys that complain play more tournaments then what they are required to play. They want the points and the money. And that's fine, just don't complain about your own choices...

I actually don't remember anyone complaining about the length of the season since they shortened it. I think that's an old trope, but maybe I missed it recent complaining? Who, for example?

The old guys are barely required to play anything. For the younger, top players, there is a certain requirement, and there is also a limit to how many tournaments they can play and still gain points. Just sayin'.

 

[Fiero425]

I actually don't remember anyone complaining about the length of the season since they shortened it. I think that's an old trope, but maybe I missed it recent complaining? Who, for example?

The old guys are barely required to play anything. For the younger, top players, there is a certain requirement, and there is also a limit to how many tournaments they can play and still gain points. Just sayin'.

Unfortunately it's in the human DNA to kvetch no matter how good they have it! I still remember when the tour literally cranked out events 12 months of the year w/ Davis Cup finale around Xmas! The Aussie Open literally started the new schedule in Jan. B4 moving to Dec. for a decade! As I've said, I stopped listening to top player b!tchin' about the length of the tour when they spent weeks playing that Indian Team Tennis nonsense 10 yrs. ago! They looked like absolute idiots talking about needing rest when they spent free time playing exhibitions and other events that could have been skipped! They have it so good making millions $$'s to play a game!

 

[mrzz]

Who, for example?

I hate you for making me look up for things when I just feel like having a cup of coffe:

The ATP Tennis Season Is Too Long

The length of the modern-day ATP tennis season is leading to a drop in product level. Professional players are on tour for up to 11 months in a calendar year, with tournaments played almost 24/7. Tours also have events where players are forced to show up. Some top players like two-time Wimbledon...

www.thefirstserve.com.au

 

[El Dude]

Evidently these "kids" don't know their tennis history, or the fact that Guillermo Vilas played 147 matches in 1977, and top players regularly played 100+ matches in the 70s. This dropped by the 80s, but then started trending up again a bit until the mid-90s, but has slowly dropped since. The last player to play in 100 matches was Rainer Schuettler in 2003. This past season, Alex Zverev was the first player to play in 90 matches since David Ferrer (91) in 2012.

Over the last three years, Alcaraz played in 70, 77, and 67 matches. Sinner has played in 71, 63, 79, and 79 the last four years. Meaning, neither has ever reached 80 matches in a season. Rafa's most was 93 matches (2008), and played 9 seasons of 80+ matches. Novak's most was 97 matches in 2009, with 6 seasons of 80+ matches. Roger's most was 97 in 2006, with 8 seasons of 80+ matches.

Anyhow, if injuries have increased, it isn't a matter of them playing more but likely playing harder. Similar to pitchers in baseball, where Tommy John surgeries have skyrocketed over the last couple decades, correlating with increases in pitch velocity (the average fastball today is something like 94 mph, which I believe is an increase of about 5 mph since the 90s).

 

[El Dude]

I'm also not sure where that article is getting its numbers. In 1984, the Grand Prix circuit had 68 tournaments (including team events), plus 5 from the WCT - so 73 total, as opposed to the 50 cited by the article.

I also have to chuckle at the notion of Stefanos Tsitsipas--the poster boy for Millenial entitlement--being a "tennis revolutionary."

Now I'm not saying that the season isn't grueling. But it has always been grueling, and is probably less grueling today than it was in the past, at least in terms of how much players played.