Andrey Rublev has mixed feelings about Rome and Madrid becoming the latest Masters 1000 events to be expanded on the Tour.
This year is the first time the European clay events are being held over two weeks with an expanded draw that allows more players to participate. There are now four Masters 1000 events which have a two-week slot with Indian Wells and Miami having done so for a few years. It is understood that Shanghai will be the next tournament to be expanded later this year followed by both Canada and Cincinnati from 2025 onwards.
There has been a variety of views regarding the format from players with some being more skeptical of the move than others. Former world No.1 Andy Murray has said he is ‘not a fan’ but is open to change. Meanwhile, 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has voiced concerns that extending these tournaments could have a negative impact on some players preparing to play Grand Slam tournaments.
Weighing in on the debate following his third round win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Italian Open, Rublev is the latest player to express mixed views about the changes. The Russian won his maiden Masters 1000 title earlier this year in Monte Carlo.
“I would say mixed. It’s a bit easier because I have more time to relax, rest and recover after playing Monte Carlo and Banja Luka two weeks in a row non-stop. Then in Madrid, you’re also playing non-stop but at least you have one day off and it is a bit easier,” Rublev said during an interview with The Tennis Channel.
Rublev, who has won 13 ATP titles so far in his career, believes the biggest issues players now face is trying to mentally stay in a competitive mindset for a longer period which he says could make them more tired.
“In Madrid, I lost before the quarter-finals so I had a bit of time to rest and come here (to Rome) a bit fresher and now I feel a bit better,” he continued.
“Obviously, it is also a bit tough because you can’t go back home. You have to travel week-by-week. If you take one week to practice and that practice will be hard mentally you recover because you don’t have this tension between tournaments. Even if you don’t practice a lot during these tournaments because of the tension you get tired.”
The ATP insists that their decision to increase the size of Masters 1000 events will enable ‘more premium action for fans across the season and more earning opportunities for players.’ The move is Phrase One of their OneVision strategic plan which aims to ‘take tennis to new heights from 2023.’
Rublev will return to action in Rome on Tuesday when he will play Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in the fourth round.
