Jordan Thompson Slams ATP Schedule as "Sh*t", Calls Two-Week Masters Events a Joke

Australian player Jordan Thompson says the ATP schedule is “sh*t”, blaming it for injuries and burnout. He joins a growing group of players frustrated by the extended Masters events and a non-existent off-season.

 

Jordan Thompson Blasts ATP Tour Schedule: “Our Off-Season Is a Joke”
Published: 28 May 2025 | 10:00 AM 

Australian tennis player Jordan Thompson has launched a scathing critique of the ATP Tour schedule, calling the demands placed on players “sh*t” and condemning the recent shift to two-week Masters events.

Speaking after he and Jason Kubler were eliminated in the men’s doubles at Roland Garros, Thompson didn’t hold back on how the relentless calendar has affected players — especially Australians.

“Unfortunately with the ATP schedule and how sh*t it is, we can’t afford to take breaks,” said Thompson. “You let other people pass you on the rankings, get more prize money, and you feel like you’re missing out.”

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Extended Masters Events Under Fire

Thompson was particularly critical of the expansion of the Madrid Masters and Italian Open to 14-day events — durations previously reserved for Grand Slams.

“I haven’t spoken to a player who likes the two-week events,” he said. “You’re in one city for 17 days. Why does a tournament take that long to finish? It’s just a waste of time in my opinion.”

He added that three-set doubles matches don’t warrant extra rest days, comparing them unfavorably to the one-week format of the Paris Masters.

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Unique Challenges for Australian Players

The Sydney native emphasized how the schedule disproportionately impacts Australian players who want to return home:

“It’s so far to get back to Australia. You don’t go back for less than 10 days. By the time you acclimatise on that island in the middle of nowhere, you’re already heading back.”

He explained that national team duties like the Davis Cup have further compressed the off-season:

“Our off-season is a pitiful three weeks. That’s rubbish. I’ve got some worse words for it. Our 2025 season started in 2024 — where’s the break?”

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Rising Player Discontent

Thompson's comments reflect growing unrest in the tennis world. The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic, has filed a lawsuit against ATP and affiliated parties over governance and commercial structures.

Meanwhile, top-10 players met last week in Paris with Grand Slam organizers, including Tennis Australia, to raise concerns about prize money shares and scheduling reforms.

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Context: Thompson’s Career Surge

Despite his frustrations, Thompson is coming off a breakthrough 2024 season, in which he won his maiden ATP singles title and captured the US Open doubles crown with the now-suspended Max Purcell, qualifying for the ATP Tour Finals.

But success has come at a cost — only seven days of rest between seasons.

“It’s great we play in Australia, but if you play Davis Cup, you get barely a week off before training resumes and you’re gone before Christmas,” Thompson said. “That’s not sustainable.”