Tennis stars have rallied together to call for a big change to be scrapped amid fears over play welfare.
Some of the biggest names in the sport have pulled out of tournaments in recent weeks with world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz missing a big chunk of the season through injury.
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Rivals Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic also appear wary of their fitness, with both pulling out of the Canadian Open ahead of the final grand slam of the season, the US Open.
Sinner and Alcaraz have also withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters next week.
Like the Canadian Open, it is a Masters 1000 event – a tournament that now consists of two weeks following a change from the traditional one week in 2025.
The top two players in the world withdrawing due to injury concerns, with Sinner resting after picking up a knee niggle, has prompted a statement from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
“The evidence is clear: the season is too long, recovery time is shrinking, and injuries are occurring earlier and becoming more severe,” the PTPA said.
“Short-term commercial interests cannot come at the expense of player health.
“Protecting players isn’t just about today’s competitors, it is about protecting the future of tennis.”
While Alcaraz has been sidelined since April, Sinner’s knee problem is much more recent and not as serious, with the Italian focused on success at Flushing Meadows.
“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said in a statement.
”My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet.
”I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati … I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the U.S. Open.”