Casper Ruud has come out once again to criticise the current ATP Tour calendar, saying he will skip a few events in the the future.
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have voiced their unhappiness over the demanding ATP and WTA Tour calendars several times over the past year, while Ruud also expressed his concerns after his early exit from this year’s French Open.
Players are required to play a certain number of mandatory tournaments every year and if they don’t, they face penalties in terms of fines and points deductions from the ATP and WTA Rankings.
Former world No 2 Ruud believes some players compete despite being injured in order to qualify for the extra monetary incentives, but he concedes that he needs to look after himself.
Ruud told Bolavip: “I know that if you are not healthy or not eligible to play, you won’t be put in jail if you don’t play, but there is also an economic incentive to play, and some people care more about it than others. But I think the season is long.
“To have a mandatory event like Paris that late in the season makes the season really, really long. It’s the same for everyone, but going forward I will plan the schedule a bit differently, maybe skipping a few events here and there.
“I had a very hectic three to four years since I reached the top 10. I played a lot of events, and I played some exhibitions in the pre-season, so those are some choices that I have made, which I look back on and think I shouldn’t have done. For the future, that is something I will take into consideration.”
The 30 players who earn the most ATP Rankings points at ATP Masters 1000 events and the ATP Finals this season will share the Bonus Pool of 21 million dollars.
Meanwhile, six players also earn 3m in the ATP 500 Bonus Pool.
