Andy Murray Thinks No One Knows What They Want Amid Players and Tournaments’ Many Complaints

Former World No.1 Andy Murray was completely against the expansion of the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters 1000s.

Andy Murray Thinks No One Knows What They Want Amid Players and Tournaments’ Many Complaints

Andy Murray (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

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What are the solutions to the ever-growing complaints about schedule and prize money? Tournaments, the tennis bodies, and the players are in disagreement over various issues.

Andy Murray recently sat for an interview with The Tennis Podcast and made his feelings known on these complaints. Murray wants every party to be pretty clear about exactly what they want.

I think it comes back to what is actually the problem with tennis. What is it that everyone wants to change? What is so bad about it? Not everyone agrees on what the issues actually are. Players will always complain. I did when I was a player, and a lot of the things that players are complaining about now were complaints 20 years ago, whether it is prize money related, too many tournaments, or the schedule is wrong.

To prove his point, the Scot cited the example of this year’s revamped US Open mixed doubles. The top singles players found it an amazing idea, but the doubles players hated it.

You might hear players say there are too many tournaments and we play too much, but generally, it’s the top players that say that. Players ranked 70 in the world may not want fewer tournaments; they maybe want as many tournaments as possible to earn money and more ranking points. Whereas the top 10 players in the world generally feel like they want to play less, which is understandable, they play more matches.

Andy Murray added

Murray pointed out that despite complaining about the schedule, players sign up for the lucrative exhibition matches, and those advocating for a long calendar call out the players for not focusing on rest and recovery. He also talked about the new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh is to host the 10th Masters 1000 of the season from 2028. Though it’s not going to be a mandatory tournament, many are convinced that, despite complaining about the hectic schedule, the top players will sign up for it because of the prize money.

Riyadh hosts the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event that offers $6 million to the champion. World No.2 Jannik Sinner pocketed the mouthwatering amount in the first two editions of the tournament.

Andy Roddick praises Novak Djokovic for skipping tournaments

While many top players dwell a lot on whether to play or not play the mandatory events, at this stage of his career, Novak Djokovic doesn’t think much when it comes to skipping tournaments. The 38-year-old is only prioritizing the Grand Slam tournaments and is not caring much about rankings or the mandatory tournaments, including the ATP Finals, skipping the tournament last year and this year. Andy Murray lauded the Serb’s decision during that aforementioned interview with The Tennis Podcast.

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Novak is a good example of that this year, where he has not done that, and at times, Federer did not do that. You are allowed to miss tournaments. Obviously, there are certain penalties in place for that.

Andy Murray said

Murray was in Djokovic’s team as his coach for six months. Under the three-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic reached the semifinal of the Australian Open and the final of the Miami Open.

In Melbourne, his hamstring injury forced him to hand the walkover to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev, while in Miami, he lost the match to the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik. The partnership between the former rivals ended after the Madrid Open.

Following Madrid, Djokovic defeated Hubert Hurkacz to clinch his career’s 100th singles title, becoming the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to do so. Djokovic then clinched his second title of the season at the Hellenic Championship by defeating Lorenzo Musetti.

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Gives His Thoughts on Why Beating Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is Difficult