Following the conclusion of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year at the US Open, the ATP season has approached its latter stages.
The Asian swing, already up and running, features two ATP 500 tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing, before its sole Masters 1000 event in Shanghai.
Shortly after the indoor hard-court season gets underway, with plenty of points up for grabs across Europe, most of which are available at the Paris Masters in late October.
It’s a busy time in the tennis year for stars, but in the eyes of Serena Williams‘ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, there is a more problematic section of the calendar.
Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesPatrick Mouratoglou suggests a change in the tennis schedule
When asked if the Autumn to Winter season in tennis is ‘too heavy’, Mouratoglou responded in a post on Instagram: “False. I think that the calendar that is too heavy is between May and the end of August.
“Three Grand Slams and so many Masters 1000 in such a short period of time. I think this is too much.
“I would rather have them more spread out in the season. I think it would be better for the players.”
The Frenchman also batted away claims that the season post-US Open is ‘boring’, stating: “Of course it is always more exciting when there is a Grand Slam because they are the biggest events in tennis.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
“But I think there are a lot of really cool tournaments after the US Open until the end of the season.
“To name a few, there are Masters 1000s, the grand [ATP] Finals at the end of the season, and two UTS events that are extremely exciting.
“I think there are great tournaments for fans, even though there are no Grand Slams”
Patrick Mouratoglou says the Laver Cup is not an ‘exhibition’
Another event on the calendar after the US Open is the annual Laver Cup, pitting Team World against Team Europe in tennis’ version of the Ryder Cup in golf.
Many fans claim the event is more of an ‘exhibition’ instead of a competition, which Mouratoglou disagrees with.
He said: “The Laver Cup is a competition, [in the same way that] UTS is a competition.
“Just about the Laver Cup, the players are fully committed and play full. UTS, players are playing full, and it’s prize money-based.
“People who label them exhibitions are just trying to diminish them,” concluded the 55-year-old.