"It's like a training week": the Next Gen ATP Finals losing momentum despite ATP promises

Between controversial innovations and growing player disinterest, the Next Gen Masters seems at a crossroads.

© AFP

Jules Hypolite

le 12/12/2025 à 20h32

1 min to read

Chakvetadze Anna Extraits de Dossiers Fils Arthur Fonseca Joao Gauff Cori Sabalenka Aryna Swiatek Iga

The future of the Next Gen ATP Finals now seems uncertain. While some innovations have eventually taken hold, others remain mere experiments: four-game sets, the removal of advantages, or the abolition of the service let will not change the outcome.

The ATP also appears to be seeking renewal: in 2025, two rules are being modified. The break between sets will be reduced from 120 to 90 seconds, and spectators will enjoy total freedom of movement during the first three games.

Adjustments that give the impression that the governing body is going in circles, as if it has almost run out of ideas to reinvent tennis.

"It's like a training week"

At present, the tournament's appeal seems mainly sporting—and increasingly limited. In 2024, the ATP even lowered the age limit to 20 and removed the local wild-card, which has rarely been successful.

The tournament's move to Jeddah (2023–2025), right in the middle of December, has reduced its attractiveness: many players prefer to rest or prepare for the following season. Withdrawals are multiplying, and even participants sometimes struggle to stay motivated.

Arthur Fils, in 2024, stated he approached the event "like a training week," while Joao Fonseca, despite being the winner, declined to return the following year.

The full investigation available this weekend

Find the investigation "Laboratory of tomorrow's tennis, does the Next Gen Masters have a future?" on TennisTemple on Saturday, December 13.