Holger Rune is one of the top stars in tennis who has been affected by the increasingly demanding schedule imposed on players. The 22-year-old Dane ruptured his left Achilles tendon during a tournament and underwent surgery, which means he will be out of action for several months.
Rune believes that the expansion of Masters 1000 events, which have grown from six to nine tournaments in recent years, has made the tennis calendar more physically demanding. He feels that players are now required to compete for longer periods, with fewer breaks in between matches, which can lead to fatigue and injuries.
"It's physically more demanding, but also mentally," Rune said. "You're at a tournament for up to 20 days and it feels like almost a full month." He added that he misses the one-week Masters events of the past, where players could rest after each event if they wanted to.
Rune's comments come as the ATP Tour is preparing for its expanded calendar in 2026, which will feature more Masters 1000 events and longer tournaments. The Danish player believes that the ATP needs to make some adjustments to the schedule to ensure that players like him are not overworked and injured.
"We really want to show our best tennis to the fans," Rune said. "I think we can do this with small adjustments in the planning of scheduling seeded players in Masters 1000 for week two."
The ATP has defended its expanded format, saying it will increase revenue and benefits players through a profit-sharing model. However, Rune's comments suggest that there may be a need for some adjustments to ensure player welfare.
The tennis calendar is getting increasingly demanding, with more events and longer tournaments pushing the physical and mental limits of players like Holger Rune.
Rune believes that the expansion of Masters 1000 events, which have grown from six to nine tournaments in recent years, has made the tennis calendar more physically demanding. He feels that players are now required to compete for longer periods, with fewer breaks in between matches, which can lead to fatigue and injuries.
"It's physically more demanding, but also mentally," Rune said. "You're at a tournament for up to 20 days and it feels like almost a full month." He added that he misses the one-week Masters events of the past, where players could rest after each event if they wanted to.
Rune's comments come as the ATP Tour is preparing for its expanded calendar in 2026, which will feature more Masters 1000 events and longer tournaments. The Danish player believes that the ATP needs to make some adjustments to the schedule to ensure that players like him are not overworked and injured.
"We really want to show our best tennis to the fans," Rune said. "I think we can do this with small adjustments in the planning of scheduling seeded players in Masters 1000 for week two."
The ATP has defended its expanded format, saying it will increase revenue and benefits players through a profit-sharing model. However, Rune's comments suggest that there may be a need for some adjustments to ensure player welfare.
The tennis calendar is getting increasingly demanding, with more events and longer tournaments pushing the physical and mental limits of players like Holger Rune.
! It's like they're trying to turn tennis into a marathon or something 
. I mean, can't we just stick to the old format where players get some decent rest time between matches? Rune's right, it's not about showing off our skills for the fans, it's about taking care of ourselves so we don't end up like him 
.
. The ATP's profit-sharing model sounds great on paper, but what about the physical toll it takes on players? I'd rather see some tweaks to the schedule that prioritize player welfare over revenue 
. It's time to put our health above our bank accounts 
. I mean, I get it, more Masters 1000 events are gonna bring in some serious cash, but at what cost? These guys are putting their bodies on the line every time they step onto the court and now Holger's paying the price with that Achilles injury 
. The ATP needs to listen to these guys and make sure they're not getting burned out 
.
, and now he's gonna be out of action for months 
. i think the atp tour should really consider players' well-being when planning their schedule 
, it's no wonder injuries happen 
. and i agree with him about seeded players being placed in masters 1000 for week two 
, that would give them some breathing room 
. anyway, fingers crossed for rune's speedy recovery 
!
Here's a simple mind map to show what I think about this issue:
. Rune's comments are valid - the current schedule is too demanding and it's affecting players' mental health 
. Maybe seeded players for week two? That could make a big difference 
.
. It's not just about Holger Rune, but all the other talented athletes who are struggling with injuries 
.