"It's not great for top 10 players": Alexander Zverev raises concern about ATP, WTA Masters events length and highlights its negative impact on top-ranked players

Germany’s tennis star Alexander Zverev has also raised concerns about the length of the ATP and WTA Masters. Recently, some players, including some notable ones, have raised concerns about the length of the mega-events.

Women’s world number four Elena Rybakina was the highest player on the tour to state her frustration about the length of the Masters for numerous reasons. Zverev became the most high-profile player from the men’s side to raise her voice about the length of such competitions.

The 27-year-old, who participated in the Madrid Open but was knocked out after losing in the round of 16 to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, stated that such events are counterproductive, especially for top-ranked players.

"The two-week Masters 1000 events are great for players ranked between 50 and 100 in the world because they get a chance to play a main draw event," said Zverev. "It's not great for top 10 players. It's as simple as that.

"Yes, you do get told you have a day in between, you don't have to play everyday. At the end of the day that's not resting. Resting is when you're spending time at home, sleeping in your own bed, maybe with your family, your dogs, your kids, right?

"A day between matches, if you're at a different place, that's not resting. If you're going deep in events ... if you're trying to make the semi-finals or finals of every event, you're just away a lot longer and you have to work a lot more."

"If we have an 11-month season, like we have now ... it's just simply not enough time. It's not enough time to rest your body. It's also not enough time to physically prepare your body.

"Physical preparation isn't how much you practice on court, how much you play. It's how much work you put in the gym, on the track, outside the court, that you can't do during the season."