Weekday finals, 12-day Masters and longer rest: Gaudenzi’s bold plan to reshape the ATP Tour by 2028

Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP, has shed light on the sweeping reforms being considered for men’s tennis in the coming years, addressing long-standing concerns over scheduling, player workload, and the sport’s fragmented governance. Speaking candidly in a recent press conference from Turin – in the middle of the ATP Finals - the Italian detailed how they aim to create a more sustainable and unified calendar by reducing the number of smaller events and expanding the most prestigious ones.

Over the last decade, the men’s circuit has undergone gradual consolidation. “In the last few years, we’ve reduced the number of ATP 250 tournaments—from 38 down to 29,” Gaudenzi noted. The ultimate goal, he explained, is to further streamline the schedule by 2028, when the new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia is expected to debut. With 52 weeks in a year. “Players need an off-season,” he said. “Right now, the pre-season is too short. They need time off, holidays, and time to work on their body and their tennis.”

Gaudenzi pointed out that aligning all the sport’s governing bodies remains a major challenge. “There are seven entities involved in this: the four Grand Slams, the ITF with the Davis Cup, and both the ATP and WTA. It’s difficult to have one common line,” he admitted. Still, the ATP’s vision is clear: to focus on its premium products. “Fans love to see the best playing against each other, and this happens in the Slams, the Masters 1000s, and the Finals.”

But managing players’ independence adds complexity. “Tennis players are independent professionals,” he stressed. “Each chooses where to play. Some might prefer a 250 over a 500, or even an exhibition outside the system.” The ATP, he said, can only influence behavior through incentives, but “if we can bring everyone—Slams, ITF, ATP, WTA—to the same table, under one framework, we could do a better job on the calendar.”

One of the most debated reforms under Gaudenzi’s tenure has been the expansion of Masters 1000 tournaments to 12 days. The chairman defended the decision by pointing to historical success. “Back to the 12 days’ expansion,” he said. “I really haven’t invented anything. Indian Wells, Miami were there for 35 years. I came in, I really looked at the numbers, and I could see these tournaments were really out-performing the others.”

He connected this to the broader business model of tennis. “You look even at the Slams. Why are they so successful? Two reasons: infrastructure, incredible infrastructure, and of course, history, the brand. They have big stadiums and they have three weeks technically—15 days of main draw plus qualies is three weeks.” Tennis, he explained, relies heavily on ticket sales: “We are a sport that is very, very heavy in terms of ticketing. Ticketing revenue is already above 50% or 60%. You compare other sports—they’re very media. We are low in media and very high in ticketing for many reasons.”

This ticketing advantage, Gaudenzi argued, is why extending tournaments has proven financially rewarding. “When you add days, I’ve seen now that 2025 was year three of the plan… including Canada and Cincinnati, and I already see the results,” he said. “If you look at the top-line revenue, that I cannot disclose, it’s going really up high. It’s changing a lot.” He confirmed that “we paid out almost $20 million in profit sharing. That was coming from $6 million… a 25% on top of the usual prize money, which was already increased.”

The extended events, he continued, have also allowed for greater financial redistribution. “We try to balance it for all the cohort of players, including Challengers, because the Challengers are also very important for the pathway and to build the champions of the future.” For Gaudenzi, the shift towards larger Masters tournaments represents not just a financial move but a strategic one—designed to elevate the sport’s middle tier while protecting the top.

Looking ahead, the ATP’s roadmap envisions roughly 10 weeks of ATP 250s, eight of 500s, and the established 10 Masters 1000s alongside the four Grand Slams—32 premier weeks in total. “If you’re at the top, you’ll play the Slams and Masters, maybe one or two 500s,” he explained in the press conference. “Lower-ranked players will play more 500s and 250s; even lower, 250s and Challengers.” He noted that players like Sinner or Alcaraz “don’t need to play a 250 for money—it’s not necessary at their level.”

Scheduling flexibility is also under review. For instance, the ATP has agreed with Cincinnati to move its 2026 final back to Sunday, while Canada’s remains on a Wednesday. “Other sports also play on Mondays or Wednesdays, like the Champions League,” he said. “We must be flexible to adapt to programming. Let’s see next year what impact a Sunday final has compared to Monday in terms of TV audiences.”

Perhaps the most immediate concern is ensuring players get adequate rest. “I think it definitely needs to be longer than what we have today,” Gaudenzi admitted. “Some players would say six, some say seven, some say eight. Surely a player needs one or two weeks off, then one or two weeks when they start building their body… then they pick up the racquet again.”