Roddick Explains the Absence of Grass-Court Masters 1000: "The Courts Are in Ruins by the End of the Tournaments"
The clay season has just begun and features no fewer than three Masters 1000 events (Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome), all leading up to Roland-Garros. Then comes the grass season, including Queen’s and Halle (ATP 500), before culminating in Wimbledon.
Despite hosting a historic Grand Slam (the first Wimbledon in 1877), the ATP Tour has no Masters 1000 on grass.
On the podcast *Served with Andy Roddick*, the former American champion shared his explanation:
"The reason there’s no Masters 1000 on grass—something I would have loved in my time—is simple.
The courts at the end of Wimbledon are in ruins; there’s wear and tear. For example, you can’t train a player under those conditions late in the tournament.
Plus, there’s always been a shortage of courts. I remember Roger Federer, when he was going for his sixth Wimbledon title, could only practice for exactly 45 minutes a day on the tournament’s outside courts.
Grass is very different from the other Slams when it comes to training. Only Wimbledon can provide practice courts, locker rooms, parking, and hospitality."
