Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and top seed at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, has joined a growing chorus of tennis stars demanding change to the ATP’s increasingly demanding schedule. The German, fresh off a hard-fought 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Matteo Arnaldi to reach the fourth round, used his platform to criticize the extended Masters 1000 format and the relentless 11-month tennis calendar. His candid remarks, echoed by players like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Taylor Fritz, highlight a critical issue in professional tennis: a schedule so packed it leaves players with little time to recover, train, or prepare for the next season.
The ATP’s recent shift to extend seven of the nine Masters 1000 events to 10 or 12 days, with only Monte Carlo and Paris-Bercy remaining one-week tournaments, has sparked widespread discontent. Zverev, a seven-time Masters 1000 champion, including a 2017 title in Canada, expressed his frustration on the *Nothing Major Podcast*, hosted by former American pros Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock. “I am not a fan of where this is going,” Zverev said, pointing to the lack of player support for the two-week format. “I’ve not heard a single player say that they love the two-week Masters events. I don’t even think fans like that.” He argued that the extended tournaments disrupt player rhythm and fan engagement, as spectators often wait days to see their favorite players compete.
The 2025 season, which began just a month after the 2024 season ended, exemplifies the issue. Zverev highlighted Alex de Minaur’s grueling schedule as a case study: “He played his last match at Davis Cup on the 25th November, and he played his first match of the United Cup on the 27th December. So you have a month of off-season. How are you going to take two weeks off and prepare your body for a new season? You don’t have the time to do those things anymore.” This relentless cycle, compounded by mandatory participation in eight Masters 1000 events, four Grand Slams, and now four ATP 500 tournaments, leaves top players like Zverev, who boasts a 37-14 record in 2025, with little flexibility to prioritize rest or strategic preparation.
Zverev’s concerns are not new but carry added weight given his stature and recent performances. After reaching the Australian Open final and winning titles in Rome and Paris-Bercy in 2024, he started 2025 with a 4-0 record at the United Cup and a third-round appearance in Melbourne. Yet, his season has been marred by fatigue, with a first-round Wimbledon upset and a third consecutive loss to Francisco Cerundolo in Madrid. The absence of top players like Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic from the Canadian Open underscores the toll of the schedule, with many citing burnout or injury prevention. “I think this is one subject where the ATP has to really think about it and find a solution,” Zverev urged, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable calendar.
The German’s critique extends to the ATP’s governance, particularly its focus on revenue over player welfare. In a 2024 interview, he bluntly stated, “It’s all about money here; that’s all the ATP cares about.” He dismissed suggestions of a player boycott, noting, “We’re not allowed to boycott. We get fined if we don’t play tournaments.” As a member of the ATP Player Council, Zverev supports the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA), which filed a lawsuit in March 2025 against governing bodies, citing the “unsustainable” schedule. However, he remains skeptical of short-term solutions, saying, “We don’t want mandatory tournaments, but it’s not us who decides.”
Zverev’s love for the sport tempers his frustration. “I don’t want to complain because I love being a tennis player. I love playing tennis,” he said before Wimbledon, acknowledging the rewards of a career that has seen him win 24 ATP titles and a 2020 Olympic gold medal. Yet, his call for reform resonates with players and fans alike, who see the current structure as detrimental to both player health and the sport’s appeal. As Zverev prepares to face Cerundolo in Toronto, his 500th career win within reach, his advocacy for a leaner schedule—potentially reverting to one-week Masters events like Paris-Bercy, which he called “awesome” after winning in 2024—could shape the future of tennis. With the Cincinnati Open and US Open looming, the pressure is on the ATP to listen before the sport’s biggest stars burn out.
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