ATP shortens men’s tennis season 22/11/2010 |
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The ATP is extending the off-season in men’s tennis from five to seven weeks, starting in 2012, without reducing the number of tournaments.
The decision, announced on Sunday (November 21) at the ATP World Tour Finals, was approved by the ATP board ahead of the season-ending event at The O2 arena in London.
“Our 2012 and 2013 calendars each provide for the seven-week off-season, meaning that our players will have an additional two weeks to spend away from the rigors of life on tour before taking up the cause again in the following year,” ATP president Adam Helfant said.
“I’m happy to say that these new calendars and the expanded off-season reflect the broad consensus among our members that the players, and really the sport as a whole, needed a longer break. It didn’t take long to find that consensus.”
The men’s tour has traditionally shut down from the end of the ATP finals in November until the start of the following season in early January at the Brisbane International, Chennai Open and Qatar Open.
But the seasons will end sooner in 2012 and 2013 with the rescheduling of four late-season events along with the removal of the off-week between the Paris Masters and the ATP finals.
“We took the view that with the increasing physical and mental demands on our game, standing still was actually more like moving backwards,” Helfant added. “Doing nothing today, because some think there might be a more complete solution, including aspects outside our control sometime in the future, didn’t feel right or responsible for that matter.
“The health and well-being of our players is a tour-wide issue and preserving and extending the playing careers of our top players is critical for the long-term good of the game.”
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