Andy Roddick has recently voiced his strong disapproval of the ATP’s decision to introduce a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia. The former world number one and 2003 US Open champion did not hold back in expressing his concerns about the impact this decision will have on the already congested tennis calendar. Roddick’s criticism stems from the belief that adding another high-profile tournament in an already packed schedule will only exacerbate the issues of player burnout and compromised health.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “Served With Andy Roddick,” the tennis star discussed the potential implications of the new tournament with journalist Jon Wertheim. Roddick highlighted the fact that February is already a busy month for men’s tennis, with several ATP 500-level events taking place, such as the Qatar ExxonMobil Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. He questioned whether the ATP plans to discontinue any existing tournaments to make room for the new event, but Wertheim could not provide a definitive answer.
Roddick’s frustration with the ATP’s scheduling decisions is not new. He has previously criticized the organization for its handling of the tennis calendar, arguing that their actions do not align with their stated goal of prioritizing player well-being. In his podcast, Roddick referred to the ATP’s decision as “bulls*it” and expressed his disbelief in their commitment to fixing the schedule.
Roddick said: “So basically the ATP, with adding this, and then just putting this.. I mean.. there are four days between sanctioned events this year and frankly, it’s just bulls*it and I don’t believe anything they say as far as wanting to fix the schedule.”
The introduction of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia is part of the country’s growing investment in tennis. Saudi Arabia has already hosted several high-profile events, including the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah and an exhibition event featuring top players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. However, Roddick’s concerns extend beyond the scheduling issues. He has also raised questions about the ethical implications of holding tournaments in a country with a history of human rights abuses and discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Roddick’s criticism of the ATP’s decision to introduce the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia reflects a broader concern within the tennis community about the impact of scheduling decisions on player health and well-being. As the sport continues to grow and expand into new markets, it is crucial for the ATP to consider the long-term implications of their decisions on the players and the integrity of the sport.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Currently ranked no.3, Carlos played his last match on the 20th of February when he lost to world no.22 Jiri Lehecka 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the quarter in Doha (draw).
Currently, during this season Alcaraz has achieved a 11-2 win-loss record. This year, Carlos conquered 1 tournament in Rotterdam.
