Ugo Humbert opposes Jannik Sinner and adds criticism to the ATP calendar. The
world No. 16 has become the latest player to lash out against the calendar and
the physical demands of competing so frequently, which puts players at risk of
injury.
The
Frenchman joined stars like Ben Shelton, Denis Shapovalov, and Gael Monfils
while participating in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Frankfurt. The
exhibition tournament is led by Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena
Williams, who recently began working with Naomi Osaka.
Humbert slams ATP calendar
The
26-year-old is coming off a productive Asian swing, where he reached the final
of the ATP 500 Tokyo Open (losing to Arthur Fils) and then made the Round of 32
in the Shanghai Masters before losing to Gael Monfils. Upon his return to
Europe, Humbert quickly joined the UTS this weekend and will be part of the
draw at the Basel Open starting Monday.
Read also
The
Frenchman has played 55 matches this season (33-22 record) and still has two
tournaments ahead of him. Humbert gave an interview with Tennis Majors, where
he opened up about the ATP calendar and the criticism it has generated in
recent months. “They never go in the players' direction. I'm sorry, but I think
that, already, the biggest bulls*** is to have put the Masters 1000 over two
weeks. It's tiring.”
“And they
tell us that we earn more money, but it's not true; we have twice as many
expenses. There are a lot more guys getting injured too. Even to follow on TV,
I think it's not even worth it; you don’t understand who’s playing when, etc.
All that, it's just a question of money, but that's not all there is to it.
Ugo Humbert is now ranked world No. 16.
“I had a
period during the North American season where I wasn't feeling well, I felt
tired, exhausted from the travels, from being away from home all the time. It's
too hard, it's too hard,” Humbert added.
“And now,
they're going in that direction again. Next year, the Masters 1000 in Canada
and Cincinnati will also be two weeks apart. I think it's complete nonsense;
the season is way too long. There's no other sport where you only have one
month off. I'm going to finish my season just after Metz, and then I’ll leave a
month later for the United Cup, which starts on December 27. I can't even
celebrate Christmas at home.”
Recently,
Jannik Sinner defended the topic of the calendar, saying that despite the
mandatory tournaments, players still have room to decide whether to participate
in some events, as well as in exhibitions outside the Tour. On this matter,
Humbert disagreed with the world No. 1: “I hear some, like Jannik Sinner, say
that you can choose not to play,” he said.
“When
you're 50th, 60th in the world, you try to play as much as possible to move up
the rankings. We need to review the system and try to condense it more because,
in its current state, it's exhausting. After a while, it's not
possible," Humbert concluded.
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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