Jannik Sinner Unveils Three-Point Plan to Avoid Further Problems
After a 2025 in which the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner truly exploded, treating fans to memorable matches and Grand Slam finals, 2026 offered just one chapter in the “Sincaraz” saga: the final of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000. The duel between the two dominant players on the tour was primarily held back by physical problems, which forced them to take turns in the infirmary. The Spaniard was sidelined for four months due to a wrist injury, while the Italian cut his season short after Wimbledon because of a knee problem.
Injuries have now become one of the main concerns in professional tennis. The champions’ absences risk depriving the most important tournaments of their most anticipated stars, with inevitable repercussions on the spectacle and public interest. This situation has prompted the ATP to develop a plan to redesign the tour and make it more sustainable, without sacrificing the sport’s commercial growth.
President Andrea Gaudenzi’s strategy is based on three main pillars: more money for players, a revised ranking system, and a less grueling schedule. The goal is to allow players to earn more, give greater value to results achieved in the most prestigious competitions, and better manage their energy during an increasingly demanding season.
The first pillar concerns economic aspects. The ATP aims to increase prize money for players, distributing resources in a way that supports both the circuit’s stars and a broader pool of professionals. Among the planned measures is an increase in the Bonus Pool—the end-of-season prize for the top 30 players in the world—from $21.5 million to $50 million. Added to this would be $25 million in bonuses for the top 250 in the rankings and approximately $30 million per year in pension contributions for 300 athletes.
The second point concerns the ranking system. The proposal is to assign greater value to results achieved in the most prestigious competitions, while at the same time reducing the incentive to play a large number of tournaments solely to accumulate points. The principle is simple: to reward the quality of results more than the quantity of appearances. This way, players would have less need to cram their schedules to make up ground in the rankings after a loss and could plan their season with greater attention to their physical condition.
The third pillar is the one most directly linked to player protection. The ATP intends to reorganize the season by dedicating specific weeks to different categories of tournaments, with the goal of making the schedule clearer and reducing pressure on players. The project also includes the introduction of a tenth Masters 1000 event—already awarded to Saudi Arabia—which is intended to further alter the structure of the tour. At the same time, the goal is to give players greater freedom in choosing which events to participate in, preventing the pursuit of points from turning into an almost mandatory presence at every competition.
