{"id":362563,"date":"2025-11-07T16:36:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T16:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/362563\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T16:36:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T16:36:18","slug":"jack-draper-urges-players-to-stop-talking-and-take-action-as-he-calls-out-the-biggest-problem-in-tennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/362563\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack Draper urges players to ‘stop talking’ and take action as he calls out the biggest problem in tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Follow us on Google Discover <\/a> <\/p>\n

As Jack Draper prepares to return from injury, he\u2019s urged his fellow ATP rivals to take a stand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over recent years and months, players on the ATP Tour<\/a> have complained at length about the hectic tennis calendar.<\/p>\n

The new two-week Masters 1000 events have added even more days to an already overwhelming schedule.<\/p>\n

World number two Carlos Alcaraz has complained about the calendar<\/a> on several occasions, even suggesting it would \u2018kill\u2019 players if nothing changes.<\/p>\n

\"CarlosPhoto by Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Weighing in with his thoughts on the issue, Draper<\/a> says it\u2019s time for everyone to stop complaining and start taking real action.<\/p>\n

Jack Draper says players need to speak to the head of the ATP and make change happen<\/p>\n

Appearing as a guest on \u2018The Tennis Podcast\u2019, Draper commented on the schedule crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really difficult for a player to manage, especially in a sport that is quite lonely. Being on the road for those extra days and not having the time to come back in between, and just feeling like you are on a constant treadmill where it\u2019s like one big event after one big event after another one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a lot of players spoke out about it. I think I saw [Carlos] Alcaraz<\/a> say that they are going to kill us in some way. I think people get confused because it\u2019s not necessarily about the physicality of the sport; it\u2019s about just how much players are putting into the sport, especially if they are doing it properly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it seems like there is a never-ending cycle of events, competition, and training, it\u2019s really, really difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll hear people say we are in such a privileged position, and I completely understand that. We are making great money, we are in a really good spot, playing a sport we love, but can the sport be better?<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it can.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s now up to the players to stop talking about it all the time and actually take some action, come forward, speak about it, and speak to the head of the ATP and the organisations and really come to some solutions here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JackPhoto by Benjamin Gilbert\/AELTC via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Brit proceeded to comment on the mental burnout players are experiencing, and admitted some of his rivals are in a worse position than he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are seeing a lot of players come out and talk about mental health and that feel-nothing factor,\u201d said Draper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a big part of it is because tennis players are just on the road so much now, and the governing bodies are just adding more days and more requirements to the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am someone who can go away to Madrid and come back home.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of these guys are from South America or from Asia, and they just don\u2019t have any balance of life anymore in such a lonely sport, so I think that is a big problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Draper was also keen to highlight the problems with the ATP bonus pools, which he believes \u2018punish\u2019 players.<\/p>\n

\u2018There is more punishment\u2019 \u2013 Jack Draper on longer Masters 1000s and bonus pools<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old understands the intentions behind extending the Masters 1000 events were pure, but doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s had the desired effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the intention was really good with the Masters 1000s and making them 12 days and increasing the revenue for the events and giving back to the players, especially the ones who are performing really well,\u201d said Draper.<\/p>\n

2025 Masters 1000 events<\/p>\n\nTournament<\/strong><\/td>\nSurface<\/strong><\/td>\nDraw<\/strong><\/td>\nChampion<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nIndian Wells<\/td>\nHard<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nJack Draper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMiami Open<\/td>\nHard<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nJakub Mensik<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMonte-Carlo Masters<\/td>\nClay<\/td>\n56 (7 day)<\/td>\nCarlos Alcaraz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMadrid Open<\/td>\nClay<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nCasper Ruud<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nItalian Open<\/td>\nClay<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nCarlos Alcaraz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCanadian Open<\/td>\nHard<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nBen Shelton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCincinnati Open<\/td>\nHard<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nCarlos Alcaraz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nShanghai Masters<\/td>\nHard<\/td>\n96 (12 day)<\/td>\nValentin Vacherot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nParis Masters<\/td>\nHard (Indoor)<\/td>\n56 (7 day)<\/td>\nJannik Sinner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u201cBut the requirements are high. They have added an extra 21 days onto an already really packed schedule. The Slams have also added four days. That is a different topic, but it just seems like there are more requirements for players. There is more punishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I speak about punishment, I speak about the fact that it\u2019s directly linked to the bonus pool, so if a player were to go out and have a really bad injury somehow, there is no protection, and they will lose 25% of their bonus pool for each event they have missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo say this year I have missed three events, I will get a performance bonus pool, but in actual reality, it\u2019s not incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Draper missed four Masters 1000 tournaments due to injury in 2025.<\/p>\n