The players are exhausted": Alex de Minaur's unfiltered charge against the extended Masters 1000s

The 12-day Masters 1000s continue to divide opinions. For Alex de Minaur, the reform has only brought negative effects: disrupted rhythm, lack of matches, mental overload. "It's not good for our bodies," he warns, calling on the ATP to react.

Criticism regarding the extended Masters 1000s has been rampant throughout the year. Questioned on the subject after his victory against Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals, Alex de Minaur reaffirmed that the 12-day format has no positive impact for the players:

"Yes, you can have a day off between two matches, but it's not a complete day off. You train, you go to the courts to warm up, you go to the fitness room. At the start of the year, you have Indian Wells and Miami. These are two tournaments you play over an entire month.

The hardest thing for a player is to be seeded and reach the round of 16. You play the round of 16 at Indian Wells, then the round of 16 at Miami. In total, you can end up playing only six matches in the whole month, which is not enough.

You spend the whole month away from home, training, living in a hotel, with just the bare essentials, without really enjoying your free time, and in the end you only play six matches, right? I think if you ask any player, they would all prefer the one-week tournaments, because you go there, you play, and once it's over, it's finished.

Yes, it allows us to disconnect. I believe this year we have seen a record number of injuries, the highest ever recorded on the tour, right? These are not good numbers for our sport. We need to take care of the players and their bodies. Obviously, what's happening right now isn't really helping.