Zverev criticizes length of Masters tournaments and demands return to seven-day format

The tournament in Montreal, one of the most important events of the ATP season, suffered this year from a series of prominent withdrawals. Top stars such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Rafael Nadal were also not part of the field, which further intensified the debate about scheduling pressure and tournament length. Zverev sees this as a structural problem caused by the extension of tournament duration.

Background: The reform of the Masters 1000 tournaments

The background to the debate is a reform with which the ATP has extended the Masters 1000 events to up to two weeks since 2023 in order to generate more matches and thus more revenue. While organizers count the additional days as an economic success, many players complain about the additional physical and mental strain.

Zverev argues that shorter tournaments would increase the appeal for the world's best players. If the top stars knew they would only have to invest one week instead of almost two, the likelihood that they would participate in the Masters events more often would rise. This would also make the product more reliable for fans and sponsors.

The ATP has so far signaled that the extended formats should be maintained in the medium term, as they generate additional TV and ticket revenue. Players and player representatives have been pressing for a review of the structural reform for months. The pressure could increase especially if other major events struggle with similar withdrawals.

Reactions from the players

In addition to tournament length, the densely packed season calendar also plays a role. Between the Grand Slams, the Masters tournaments, the Olympic Games, and the various national team competitions, top players have hardly any time to recover. Zverev had already emphasized in earlier interviews that the strain is one reason why players skip individual tournaments.

For Zverev personally, Montreal is also an important sporting event, as he has achieved strong results there in the past. However, his appearance at the press conference was unusually blunt: with his clear demand for a return to the one-week format, he positioned himself as one of the most prominent critics of the ATP reform.

Outlook: Will there be a return to the old format?

The discussion about the future of the Masters tournaments is likely to continue in the coming months. Should the ATP respond to the criticism, this could have implications for the entire tournament calendar – from the allocation of points and prize money to scheduling around the Grand Slams.

Away from the court as well, Zverev remains a prominent figure in tennis, not least due to his media attention and his private life, which includes his partner Sophia Thomalla. At his appearances, he regularly emphasizes that he wants to address sporting issues clearly, even when they are unpopular.

According to observers, the question of whether the ATP will reverse its reform also depends on how viewership and TV ratings develop in Montreal and the following Masters events. If the top stars stay away, interest declines – and the pressure on those responsible to reconsider the format grows.