Increasing the revenue of a larger number of players," ATP president responds to the controversy over 12-day Masters 1000
ATP calendar, 12-day Masters 1000, and prize money are subjects discussed by ATP president, Andrea Gaudenzi, during an interview with SuperTennis.
"The switch to a 12-day format has given tournaments the time, stability, and confidence to dream big, and what's happening in Cincinnati is the perfect example. They have embarked on a multi-phase $260 million redevelopment project that will enhance all aspects of the event.
And it's not just about aesthetic improvements. The revenues generated by these improvements go directly to the players through the profit-sharing model. This is exactly the kind of long-term structural investment our sport needs, and it’s only been possible due to the new format.
It also allows you to unlock the earning potential needed to develop the entire Tour. Such reforms have been extensively discussed, with the Player Council and the Board of Directors, over several years. One of our strategic goals is to increase the revenue of a larger number of players. To achieve this, we are expanding the pension fund (from 165 to 300 players) and doubling Challenger prizes from 2022 to today.
And we are doing it with big events, grand stages, and larger scoreboards, which are the commercial engine of the sport. This is a model that needs five to ten years. I believe the Masters 1000 will grow exponentially in every way. We will remember this decision as the foundation of this change.
Players choose their own schedule. It's a rare freedom in professional sports. In many sports, there is a clear trend of increasing competitions, just look at soccer, with the expanded club World Cup launched this summer. Our calendar is complex. The season is long, and reaching the final phase each week is very difficult.
But it's also an individual sport: a player can be eliminated in the first round, another can win the title. Finding a solution that works for both is not easy, and you cannot build a calendar by thinking only of one category of players. All groups must be considered.
Cincinnati
Ever thought about how the world would be different if humans were like most other mammal species and had no desire to be entertained? No one would care about watching TV, movies, sports, listening to music, fiction books or half the stuff on the internet. And there would be no market for anything now in the entertainment industry. There would be no famous and/or filthy rich actors, musicians, fiction writers ... or athletes.