Holger Rune: Tennis has become more physically and unreasonably difficult due to the expansion of the Masters 1000 series of tournaments.

Injured Danish tennis player Holger Rune has called for “adjustments” to the tennis calendar, blaming the expanded format of the Masters 1000 series for player fatigue.

Holger Rune has sharply criticized those who earn significant profits in tennis, demanding a “revision of the schedule” and describing the expanded list of Masters 1000 tournaments as overly complicated.

The former world number four has not competed since October, when he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon during the Stockholm Open.

The worst predictions were confirmed when it became clear that he would need surgery. However, since then, Rune has shared encouraging news about his recovery, including stepping onto a tennis court without a protective boot on Christmas Day in Denmark.

Rune's injury prompted Britain's top-ranked player Jack Draper, whose 2025 season ended prematurely due to a left arm injury, to respond.

Taylor Fritz reacted:

“It's true, we are now seeing more injuries and burnout than ever before because the balls, courts, and conditions have deteriorated significantly, making weekly training even more physically demanding and hard on the body.”

There are mandatory conditions for both rounds. Currently, the ATP annual ranking includes 19 tournaments (the Nitto ATP Finals are considered an additional competition), but for athletes who have qualified, only participation in eight Masters 1000 series tournaments is mandatory - the Monte Carlo competition is popular but not mandatory.

In addition to the four Grand Slam tournaments, the top 30 players are also required to compete in at least four ATP 500 series competitions.

One of the central topics of discussion was the expansion of most of the ATP Masters 1000 series tournaments, six of which are combined with WTA tournaments and currently last 12 days, with 96 participants (the ATP tournaments in Monte Carlo and Paris retain the 56-participant format). Many have expressed dissatisfaction with the increased length of tournaments, including Rune, who believes that the introduction of the expanded Masters 1000 series to the calendar has fundamentally changed the situation.

The 22-year-old athlete shared his thoughts with Sky Sports: 

“It requires more physical effort, but it's also mentally tough! You're at a tournament for up to 20 days, but it feels like almost a whole month has passed.”

"You're already at one tournament, and then you're off to the next one. Personally, I really liked the week-long Masters series tournaments, for example, in Monaco or Paris. You arrive, play on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and move on. If you want to skip a week and rest, you can go home and be ready for the next tournament."

“Or, if you felt you played poorly and wanted more matches, you could play 250 matches the following week and correct what didn't work the previous week.”

"I understand why it's two weeks now, and I see the financial benefits for everyone, as well as the advantages for lower-ranked players. We just forget about the 32-48 players at the top of the rankings. It's not ideal for us, but I'm sure the ATP will adjust it because they also want the best players to be in good shape."

“Two weeks is great for Grand Slam tournaments because the matches are more intense, up to five sets, and we start matches on Monday or Tuesday in the first week. So we need a day off. But for Masters series tournaments, it's not necessary!”

A calendar dictated by financial interests?

Rune claims that the tennis schedule is driven by financial considerations.

“That's a fact,” he said. “But we also don't want to see tired players or injuries sustained during matches due to fatigue. That's why balance is important. I think we need to recognize that players need rest.”

The Danish athlete, who rose to fame as a teenager with a sensational victory over Novak Djokovic and winning his first title at the Paris Masters in 2022, also criticized the lack of quality facilities, the number of training hours between matches at combined Masters tournaments, and the lack of financial assistance for injured athletes.

“We really want to show fans our best tennis, and I think we can do that by making minor adjustments to the scheduling of seeded players at Masters 1000 tournaments in the second week,” Rune explained. “That way, I don't think we'll hear players complaining about too many mandatory tournaments.”

“This isn't soccer or basketball, where you get a yearly salary no matter what. We only make money when we play. That's why I think both the ATP and the players are interested in making small adjustments so that as many players as possible stay in good shape and healthy.”

Setting new standards

Rune, a three-time Masters 1000 finalist, has not yet announced the exact dates of his return, but the former Wimbledon quarterfinalist notes that his mobility and range of motion are improving every day.

“To be honest, I feel very good. First of all, the most important thing is when will my Achilles tendon be ready? And secondly, when will I be ready as a tennis player? Therefore, I will not name a specific date for my return,”

said the current world number 16.

“We are in the third stage, which includes walking in regular shoes. The next step will be learning to jump on one leg, and then running.”

"My surgeon said that everything is going very, very well. In a sense, I am setting new standards for recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture. It's not that I'm rushing. I'm just following the recommendations of specialists and putting in a lot of effort, which helps a lot."

Rune finished the 2025 season with 36 wins and 22 losses, the most significant of which was his triumphant victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the final in Barcelona.

ATP protects the extended format

ATP representatives declined to comment on specific statements made by Rune to Sky Sports, but outlined innovations implemented this year to support player welfare and mentioned a new financial protection program that provides financial support in the event of injury or unsatisfactory results.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, speaking about the expansion of the Masters 1000 tournament format in the summer, explained:

"These are not just cosmetic improvements. The revenue generated by these improvements goes directly to the players through our profit-sharing model. This is exactly the kind of long-term structural investment that the sport needs, and it has only been made possible by the expanded format."

“The expanded format certainly increases the time spent at the competition venue, and that is a really important factor. But it also unlocks the revenue potential needed to elevate the entire Tour.”

He added:

“Our goal at the ATP is to extend the off-season. Proper rest benefits everyone—players, fans, and improves the quality of competition.”

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