The director of the Cincinnati Open has dismissed claims from Roger Federer that the ATP Tour is becoming slower in order to suit Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s game.
“We, the tournament directors, need to fix it,” Federer said on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast about the courts becoming slower on tour.
“Tournament directors kind of like having Sinner and Alcaraz in the finals – it kind of works for the game,” the tennis legend explained.
A tournament director has responded to the claims, stating that Alcaraz and Sinner’s wishes don’t come into their thoughts when determining the speed of the court.
ATP tournament director says courts are not becoming slower for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
The Cincinnati Open is one of the fastest tournaments on the ATP Tour and the tournament director has rejected Federer’s claims.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Cincinnati Open director Bob Moran said that certain players don’t cross his mind when designing the pace of the court.
“Trying to create something that benefits certain players never goes through our head – not even close,” he said.
“We were fast, and we had Sinner and Alcaraz [in the final]. For the three years I’ve been doing this in Cincinnati, the players have come back to me that they feel fast – to every player.
“What we were really striving for this year was consistency throughout the swing. When they hit the States, in Washington DC, through to the US Open.
“We all decided that we wanted to be in that medium-fast to fast range. Our goal – consistent speeds, consistent ball – and that’s what we are being told by the players they want.”
Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated tournaments in all conditions in 2025, winning competitions on every surface.
The Cincinnati Open could become even quicker in 2026
Moran was adamant that he wouldn’t make his court slower in the future and even teased that there could be even faster courts.
“We would hear it, we would definitely hear it from the players. I think we were a little bit faster than normal last year,” Moran continued.
“Players were telling us we were wicked fast last year – almost like ice. I don’t know if we could get much faster than we were last year. In my mind great points, point construction, rallies – I think that’s what the fans are looking for.”
The Cincinnati Open was won by Alcaraz after Sinner was forced to withdraw through illness after just five games.
