ATP boss responds to calendar controversies: "Players can decide to play fewer exhibitions"

ATP boss Andrea Gaudenzi has given an interview to L'Equipe in which he discusses his plans for the men's circuit and the controversies that have surrounded 2024.

The circuit's calendar of 66 tournaments has been the subject of much debate throughout the season, deemed by many stars to be too packed.

However, the emergence of exhibition tournaments in December, in the middle of the off-season, and parallel competitions such as the UTS Tour, tend to overload the calendar outside the ATP season dates.

Gaudenzi returned to the controversy with a clear response to the players: "It's not like in soccer or basketball, where the players have a contract.

Our players are independent workers who can decide their own schedule.

Yes, the rankings oblige them to play, but that's only for the Grand Slams, the Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals.

We've reformed the Masters 1000, but there's only one more match to play than before.

On top of that, some players choose to play exhibitions outside the circuit. That's not done in other sports.

The question is whether you want to invest yourself on or off the circuit.

Reduce the season? Yes, but then you have to take away ATP 250s. Players can also decide to play fewer exhibitions and spend more time resting."