Wimbledon 2022 finalist, Australian Nick Kyrgios, has voiced strong criticism regarding the tennis tournament schedule, stating that the calendar is excessively long.
“The season is just too long. After the US Open, there should be no tournaments until the Australian summer. Who is watching the ATP 250 tournament in Antwerp? The stands are empty, the highlights are embarrassing,” Kyrgios commented.
He added, “It`s difficult for fans to remain constantly engaged because they know they can watch tennis every single week. There are too many tournaments; people simply don`t attend because they think, `I can watch tennis anytime, all year round.` It`s ridiculous.”
Kyrgios believes only the premier events should remain on the calendar:
The two-week Masters tournaments are good because the stands are full, and the best players in the world are competing. Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, and ATP 500 tournaments are all that should be on the schedule, followed by exhibition events. That`s it. The other tournaments don`t help the sport at all.
In addition to the schedule, Kyrgios also criticized tennis governing bodies for the absence of a players` association and the frequent changes in balls used at tournaments.
“We work hard. You spend your entire life dedicating yourself to earn an athlete`s salary, and you`re not even paid properly,” he stated, drawing a comparison to other sports.
Our sport is the only one in the world that doesn`t have an association. Players have no voice. Every week there are different balls. Imagine playing in the NBA. One day you have a game in Los Angeles, then you travel to Boston and are forced to use a different ball there. How does that feel? It`s so unprofessional.
Rupert Hartwell