“If you play everything, you spend seven weeks here in North America”: Alexander Zverev slams expanded Masters schedule
ATPWednesday, 12 August 2026 at 04:30
Alexander Zverev used his pre-tournament press conference at the Cincinnati Open to deliver one of the clearest criticisms yet of the ATP calendar, arguing that the expanded two-week Masters format is forcing top players into an unsustainable North American schedule. The German believes the solution is straightforward and said the current structure is contributing to the growing number of withdrawals and absences from major events.
The world No. 2 arrives in Cincinnati after a disappointing campaign at the Canadian Open, where he entered as the top seed and overwhelming favorite following the absences of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Instead, Zverev was eliminated in his opening match, losing to Tallon Griekspoor in the second round and missing a chance to gain ground on Sinner in the race for the No. 1 ranking.
Sinner and Alcaraz will also miss Cincinnati, once again reshaping the tournament landscape. The Spaniard continues to extend his recovery from a wrist injury, with his focus now on being fully fit for the US Open, while the Italian withdrew due to ongoing right knee issues and a precautionary approach ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season at Flushing Meadows.
Zverev, who won his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros two months ago, said that triumph has given him renewed confidence heading into the hard-court swing. But before discussing his own chances, the German turned his attention to the scheduling problem that has become one of the biggest talking points on the ATP Tour.
“Make us be here for two weeks, not seven”
Asked about the proximity of the Canadian Open and Cincinnati before the US Open, Zverev argued that the expanded Masters events have made the North American swing unnecessarily long for leading players.
“If you play everything and you’re a top player, you spend seven weeks here in North America. That is quite a long time,” Zverev said at press conference. “That’s why a lot of top players choose not to play Canada for multiple years now. That’s unfortunately the sad reality of it.”
Zverev has a 28-10 record at the US Open, where his best campaign was runner-up in 2020 (loss to Dominic Thiem).
The German believes the fix is simple and called for a return to the previous tournament structure, which required significantly less time on the road before the US Open. “Go back to how it always was. It’s quite simple. Make us be here for two weeks, not seven. For the Masters, it’s two weeks for both of them. I think that’s an easy fix.”
He also questioned the argument that longer events necessarily benefit players financially, pointing to his own experience at the Italian Open. “I actually got less money for winning the same tournament seven years later than I did seven years prior,” he said, comparing his Rome Masters title in 2017 with his victory there in 2024.
Sinner and Alcaraz absences change the draw, not the goal
With both of the world’s dominant players missing from the Cincinnati draw, Zverev acknowledged that their withdrawals alter the tournament dynamics but insisted they do not change his own approach.
Sinner has won multiple Masters titles this season and remains the benchmark on hard courts, while Alcaraz has been managing his injury carefully in the lead-up to New York.
“I think it does change a little bit, especially Jannik not being here. He’s basically won every Masters that he’s played this year,” Zverev said. “For me, it doesn’t change much. I still want to compete against the best. I still want to play against the best and hopefully just show up with my tennis, play better than I did in Canada, and we’ll see how far I can go in this tournament.”
The Cincinnati field may be missing two of the sport’s biggest names, but Zverev arrives with a different source of momentum. His Roland Garros triumph ended years of waiting for a major title and has transformed the conversation around his chances on hard courts. “
There’s some confidence that comes with winning a Grand Slam,” he said. “There’s some satisfaction that comes with it. For me, it’s great, but it’s a little bit in the past now. I’m here to hopefully play well and do well on the hard courts.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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