Former British number one Tim Henman has urged tennis officials to rethink the calendar in the wake of numerous high-profile injuries.
His comments come after a number of leading players endured lengthy injury absences this year, including world number one Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Holger Rune.
At the same time, seven of the ATP Tour’s nine Masters 1000 tournaments – which are only exceeded in prestige by the four Grand Slams – have been extended to 12 days instead of a week.
Henman backs shorter Masters
Reflecting on the growing debate around tennis’ packed schedule, Henman told Sky Sports: “I think it’s been pretty well documented that the 12-day Masters 1000s is just too much tennis.
“That’s too much time on the road and unfortunately we’re seeing that with the number of players that are injured.
“I would definitely bring that to eight or nine days, which would free up the calendar.”
Henman added: “That’s sort of more of a product change.
“I think if I had to make a practical rule change, then I would just get rid of the let serve.
“Every other shot can hit the top of the net, go over and in, so I would get rid of it and play it as it comes.”
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Alcaraz joins the debate
Seven-time major champion and current world number three Alcaraz has echoed Henman’s thoughts.
“I think tennis has changed a lot,” he said at the recently concluded Laver Cup in London, which Team Europe won after beating Team World 13-5.
“They have changed the balls, the courts, the speed of how we play – the movement is now more aggressive and you have to be prepared.
“We need weeks to practice and to make the physical training.
“There are more important tournaments making us play more and more, so I really want to take breaks.
“Who knows what will happen in the future, but the ATP and [chairman] Andrea Gaudenzi has to do something if they want us to play a lot of important tournaments.”
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