Former British No 1 Tim Henman has raised concerns about the ATP Tour calendar, arguing that the sport suffers from too many events that dilute interest and strain players. Speaking to Sky Sports, Henman said: “Historically on the ATP Tour there have been 12 tournaments in four weeks in February and what does that mean when you have Jannik Sinner here, Carlos Alcaraz there, Alexander Zverev here and Novak Djokovic there? It doesn’t provide a clear narrative for the fan so certain weeks where there is no tennis is a good thing for everybody.”
Injuries highlight the issue
Henman’s comments come at a time when injuries have disrupted the seasons of several top players. British No 1 Jack Draper ended his campaign early due to an arm injury, while Denmark’s Holger Rune suffered an Achilles tear. These setbacks have fueled debate about whether the intensity of the calendar contributes to physical strain.
The case for tennis-free weeks
Henman believes that breaks in the schedule would benefit both players and fans: “It gives the players an opportunity to rest and it gives fans the chance to build the excitement about the next event on the calendar.” He suggested that tennis could learn from Formula 1, where races are spaced out to allow anticipation to build.
Looking at other sports models
Henman pointed to the clarity of the F1 calendar as an example: “F1 is pretty easy to follow. Every couple of weekends there is a race and after 20-odd races you add up the points. You then have gaps in between.”
He argued that tennis should focus on its strongest assets, led by the four Grand Slams, and streamline other events to create a more coherent narrative.Masters events under scrutiny
Henman also questioned the current format of the Masters 1000 tournaments: “The Masters 1000 events are good concepts to get the best players but I think they should be eight or nine days, not 12. Then you can build that product.” His comments underline the need for balance between showcasing elite talent and avoiding oversaturation.
Gaudenzi’s defense of the calendar
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, in conversation with Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend, acknowledged the difficulty of designing a schedule that satisfies all players and fans. He asked whether supporters truly feel there is too much tennis, highlighting the challenge of balancing commercial demands with player welfare.
The debate over the calendar comes as both ATP and WTA prepare to introduce new heat rules, further emphasizing the need to adapt to player health and external conditions. With voices like Henman calling for reform and Gaudenzi defending the current structure, the future of the tennis calendar remains a central issue for the sport.