ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi defends 12-day Masters 1000 format, claims long-term goal is to increase revenue for players

With several in the tennis community clamoring for a shorter schedule during the grueling season, ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi has finally broken his silence on the logic behind having ATP Masters 1000 events running for almost as long as Grand Slams.

An ATP Masters 1000 title is one of the most prestigious trophies a player can win on tour, second only to Grand Slam tournaments. However, these Masters events seem to take a toll on players due to the physical toll on players.

The 2025 Cincinnati Open saw several players retire due to exhaustion from heat and scheduling. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated rival Jannik Sinner to lift the title on Monday, although not without some controversy.

The former World No.1 faced an ailing Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, defeating the German who was visibly struggling. Alcaraz would go on to face defending champion Sinner in the final, only for the Italian to retire after trailing 0-5 in the first set.

All ATP 250 and 500 tournaments have a one week duration, with players quickly moving on to their next event. However, the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments have adopted a 12-day format, just two days shy of competing with the two-week window for Grand Slam events.

Several members of the tennis community, including players, have voiced their frustrations regarding competing at such lengthy events, especially with Grand Slam tournaments around the corner. After many ATP players have had to cancel or withdraw from these events due to tournament overlap, Gaudenzi finally released a statement highlighting the goal behind the new format.

"The move to a 12-day format has given tournaments the time, stability, and confidence to think big, and what’s happening in Cincinnati is a perfect example," read Gaudenzi's statement. "They’ve embarked on a multi-phase, $260 million redevelopment project that will improve every aspect of the event. And these aren’t just cosmetic improvements. The revenue generated by these improvements goes directly to the players through the profit-sharing model.
"This is exactly the kind of long-term, structural investment our sport needs, and it’s only been possible because of the new format. Such reforms have been discussed extensively with the Player Council and the Board of Directors for several years. One of our strategic goals is to increase revenue for more players. We’re doing this by expanding the pension fund (from 165 to 300 players) and doubling the Challengers prize pool from 2022 to today."