Aussie player Jordan Thompson calls for change to scheduling as Masters extension bites
The extension of several Masters tier tournaments has made an already demanding tour even more difficult to navigate, Australian tennis player Jordan Thompson says.
Thompson expressed frustration over the tour schedule as the Australian has struggled to replicate his career best year in 2024.
The Sydneysider has only had seven days off in 2025 as schedule changes mean players have less time to rest and spend time with family.
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Thompson was knocked out of his Roland-Garros doubles campaign on Tuesday and spoke of the challenges the modern day player faces.
The recent trend of extending 1000 events to span over two weeks has raised questions about player wellbeing and also the impact it has on the sport.
Traditionally 1000 events were condensed into a week of top-level competition with the top players competing.
With the extension of all but two of the tournaments to 12 days, and a 96 draw instead of 64, there's a feeling among players the changes drag out the tournament, with the first week often lacking entertainment, resembling more of a qualifying event than a showcase of the best tennis on tour.
Jordan Thompson. Getty
The extension of these events forces players to wait at tournaments for longer, leaving less time to recover. And such is the competition for rankings points and prizemoney, players are pushing themselves through injury to maintain their grip.
"Unfortunately with the ATP schedule and how shit it is, we can't afford to take breaks because you let other people just have an opportunity to pass you on the rankings and get more prize money and you just feel like you're missing out on an opportunity," he said.
"I can't stand the schedule. I hate the two week (Masters) events and I think it's even tougher for Aussies. The last few years I've been away, after every Aussie Open (and) I've come back at probably the start of December because I've got to wait until Davis Cup (is over).
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"I know there are opportunities to go home throughout the year, but it is so far to get back to Australia and I don't see the benefit of going there for less than 10 days, because by the time you acclimatise there, on an island in the middle of nowhere that is a completely different time zone, you've just got to come back and compete again. So I just don't see how that's beneficial for any tennis player."
Thompson was knocked out of Roland-Garros this week. Getty
He added: "I haven't spoken to a player who likes the two week events. I mean, you are there for an eternity.
"It feels like a couple of times I've made the doubles final and I've been in the same city for over 17 days, and we're at one tournament. Why is one tournament taking that long to finish? I mean, why do we need a day off for playing? They are three set matches.
"It should just be like the Paris Masters (which is a) one week event. Why do we need to turn that into a two week event? It's just a waste of time in my opinion and I know a lot of other players feel the same."
The tour schedule has been a huge gripe of the playing group for some time and formed part of the lawsuit taken against tennis' governing body.
While players are unhappy about the new arrangement, fans are also short-changed during the extended version.
The absence of top match-ups and star players in the early stages, leaves fans waiting days for clashes that usually top the bill in a one-week event.
For a player like Thompson, who also has to juggle Davis Cup duties as well, it leaves little time for anything but tennis.
"Our off-season is a pitiful three weeks. That's rubbish. I've got some worse words for our off-season. It's just a joke," he said.
"For an Australian, it's great that we play in Australia, but if you play Davis Cup, you literally can take maybe seven days off and that's your off season, because then you're back into training and you're leaving before Christmas.
"Our 2025 season started in 2024. I mean, that's just ridiculous. I mean, where's the tennis players break? I just feel like there is no time to rest or have a holiday."
