Stefanos Tsitsipas launches prize cash grievance as ATP Tour accused of breaking guarantees | Tennis | Sport
Stefanos Tsitsipas has repeatedly criticized the ATP for extending most Masters 1000 tournaments from seven days to 12, regardless of getting on board with the thought a number of years in the past. The previous world No. 3 appeared in a 2022 video alongside ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, discussing the ‘OneVision’ plan, which included lengthening seven of the 9 Masters occasions, however has since modified his thoughts and branded it a “backwards transfer.”
And the Greek star has now launched a brand new grievance, suggesting that the gamers must be higher compensated for his or her efforts if they’re being made to compete extra steadily. Tsitsipas claimed the ATP “promised” him that gamers would obtain extra prize cash when the Masters 1000 tournaments have been prolonged – however he now feels short-changed.
“Probably the most irritating half about that is, okay, you are doing us work extra, which is ok. Make us work extra, however at the very least improve prize cash. I bought promised again within the day once I had an interview with the chairman of the ATP. He shared with me the ‘OneVision’ factor, and all of it appeared alright when he was presenting it and sharing it with me,” Tsitsipas stated whereas showing on the What is the Name podcast.
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“However there hasn’t been a big change with prize cash and compensation for gamers for attending to play extra. I perceive the rationale they’re doing it’s for streaming, promoting extra tickets, and clearly, there are such a lot of the reason why that is taking place. Nevertheless it additionally creates far more fatigue and harm for gamers, and I do not suppose it is unintentional that 2025 was the yr with essentially the most retirements on the ATP Tour.
“I am not saying these Masters 1000s ought to go all the way down to seven days, however at the very least they have to discover a candy stability the place we will nonetheless go over the conventional quantity however go inside cause. As a result of the way in which they did it, they actually prolonged it method too far forward.”
The Masters 1000 occasions are the premier tournaments on the ATP Tour and are thought of the very best tier beneath the Grand Slam tournaments. On the finish of 2024, Tsitsipas hit out on the longest, 12-day iterations of the occasions throughout the Paris Masters, which stays only one week lengthy.
“It is ironic that the @atptour dedicated to this format with out understanding if it might truly enhance the schedule, however the high quality likewise. Paris bought it proper, executed in every week. Thrilling and straightforward to comply with. Simply the way it’s alleged to be. If the aim was to ease the calendar, extending each 1000 to 2 weeks is a backwards transfer. Generally, it seems like they’re fixing what wasn’t damaged,” he tweeted.
“The Masters 1000 new idea hasn’t been nice and I have never actually been an enormous fan of it and I am prepared to precise it, I do not thoughts as a result of that is my opinion. I actually wish to make it truly higher for the remainder of us to have a strong schedule, to have days that make sense by way of competitors,” he advised Sky Sports activities on the time.
