Tim Henman has voiced his concerns about the current tennis schedule, arguing that the sport would benefit from a more streamlined calendar featuring only 12 major events. Speaking at Roland Garros, the former British player highlighted the issue of excessive tournaments, which he believes dilute the significance of key matches.
“There’s too much irrelevant tennis,” Henman stated, emphasizing the need for breaks between major competitions. “To have no tennis is a good thing. The week after a slam, to have a break for everyone, so when you see the players on TV, it has meaning”. His comments reflect a growing sentiment among players and fans who feel that the packed schedule leaves little room for recovery and diminishes the excitement surrounding top-tier matches.
Henman’s proposal aligns with discussions about restructuring the tennis tour to focus on quality over quantity. While reducing the number of tournaments could impact revenue streams for organizers and lower-ranked players, it could also create a more compelling narrative for fans, ensuring that each event carries greater significance.
The idea of a condensed calendar remains a topic of debate within the tennis community, but Henman’s perspective adds weight to the argument for a more balanced approach to scheduling. Whether the sport will adopt such changes in the future remains to be seen, but his comments have certainly sparked conversation about the direction tennis should take.