The ATP Tour is set to alter the qualification process for next season’s end-of-year tournament.
This year, qualification spots for the ATP Finals were finalised following the Metz Open and Athens Open, tournaments that concluded on November 8.
However, from next year, the qualification spots are set to be finalised after the Paris Masters, a tournament that ended on November 2 and was won by Jannik Sinner.
The news was confirmed by ATP spokesman Simon Higson, who said on X [Twitter]: “Reminder of an update coming into play from 2026: points in the week following Paris will only count towards the Race for the following year. So the Race for qualification will finish in Paris.”
He added: “Combination of reasons…some entry/withdrawal issues in recent years in the week after Paris, the change will provide a ‘cleaner’ finish line in Paris for fans and players, and also allows all qualified players to arrive and prepare in Turin in the same manner.”
This change will allow players to have a recovery period before competing in the final major tournament of the year.
Jimmy Connors, a five-time US Open champion, has weighed in on the matter.
Jimmy Connors agrees with the ATP Finals rule change
Speaking on the ‘Advantage Connors’ podcast, Jimmy Connors said: “I think making a change is a good thing, cutting it off a week or two before, and letting the players get a little rest or practice or whatever they want to do.
“Having tournaments back up to that that still matter, all it does is who knows? Maybe Djokovic could have gotten hurt. Maybe they both could have gotten hurt. Then what?
“It’s a difficult situation to be put in. I think it’s a smart move: cutting it off before the ATP Finals starts, and letting the players [rest].
“As we say all the time, it is a long year, and the importance of that event, then maybe a little extra time to work on their game and be able to play their best going in there is important to them.”
Speaking about the ATP 250 events in Metz and Athens, Connors added: “Then if you want to play them, you have to pay the price. You have to understand that. That would then be up to the players themselves.”
Is Jimmy Connors right?
The decision to end the qualification race with a week to spare appears to be a smart move by the ATP, as Connors highlights. Allowing players some time to rest before the Finals will likely result in a higher quality of tennis during the Finals.
This year, Lorenzo Musetti fought tooth and nail to qualify for the Finals, competing in the Athens Open final just days before his debut in Turin.
Therefore, it was no surprise to see Musetti looking jaded during his first match in Turin, as he was playing his seventh tournament since the US Open.
However, it must be noted that the Italian bounced back, beating Alex de Minaur in his second round robin match.
Speaking of Musetti, he will face Carlos Alcaraz in his final round robin match at the ATP Finals.
With a 1-1 record, the Italian will most likely need to defeat Alcaraz to stand any chance of qualifying for the last four in Turin.
Unfortunately for fans of the 23-year-old, Musetti has a poor record against Alcaraz. After defeating the Spaniard at the 2021 Hamburg Open, Musetti has lost his next six matches against the 22-year-old.
Alcaraz is in a strong position, having defeated Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz in his first two matches.
