Tennis is a sport laden with issues which affect the players on a daily basis.
And, despite constant complaints from players, pundits and fans, nothing ever really seems to change.
Promises have been made and strategies put in place, but it feels like every new measure seems to create new problems.
Sergi Bruguera, a former player and coach at the apex of the sport, is the latest to voice his rather vociferous frustration with the decision-makers on the ATP Tour.
ATP slammed for their two-week Masters 1000 events again
Speaking to Punto de Break whilst at Barcelona this week, the initial question actually concerned Carlos Alcaraz’s new injury, which forced him to withdraw from the event.
Bruguera, who won two Grand Slam titles during his esteemed playing career, used this as a platform to complain about the two-week Masters 1000 events that could have contributed to this physical fatigue.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
He argued: “The ATP has made a mistake with the two-week Masters 1000; mentally, they become very long. If you win because you win, you’re there for a whole month to play two tournaments. What if you lose in the first round twice? You might play only two matches in a month, which is not a very good preparation either.”
Then, reinforcing the suggestion that players also dislike this change, Bruguera added: “Well, there you have it, if everyone says they prefer one-week tournaments, it’s obvious that the players don’t have a say (laughs). I suppose it’s the ATP and the tournaments that have the final say, but if all the players say that and then the opposite happens.”
Alexander Zverev has complained about two-week Masters 1000 events, with Alcaraz also taking issue with the schedule in relation to this frustration too.
Can Carlos Alcaraz become the best tennis player in history?
Later on in that same interview, Bruguera would reference Carlos Alcaraz in a far more serious capacity.
Asked if he can become the greatest tennis player of all time, like he plans to do, the 55-year-old admitted: “I see him capable, of course.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
“Look at how he is, look at the numbers and, above all, look at the difference with the other players. Right now, he doesn’t have to compete against three or four who can beat him; he just needs to keep an eye on Sinner, because with everyone else, he has a lot of margin.
“Starting to win at such a young age, having already conquered several Grand Slams, I am convinced he will fight for it. If he says it, it’s because he really believes it. The important thing is to see how he wins, how he enjoys it, that attitude helps him have fun while doing incredible things on the court.”
Alcaraz has already won seven Grand Slam titles in his short career at the age of just 22. By that age, Novak Djokovic had just one, Roger Federer had three, and Rafael Nadal had six.
