‘We need to encourage the tournaments to keep growing’ - Rafael Nadal welcomes Masters 1000s reforms

Rafael Nadal welcomed the proposed reforms to the ATP Masters 1000 events, to create more high-profile match-ups between the world’s top players across the season. From 2023, the ATP Tour calendar will allow the Masters 1000s in Madrid, Rome and Shanghai to become 12-day events alongside Indian Wells and Miami.

It is also being reported that events in Canada and Cincinnati are set to follow in 2025. Ad/> “The Masters 1000s are huge events,” said Nadal in a conversation with ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, in quotes published by atptour.com.

WimbledonInjured Nadal training on grass as he steps up Wimbledon preparations — reportA DAY AGO “Sometimes from my personal perspective it is Grand Slams and the rest of the tournaments much lower, so I think our goal from being the ATP is to put our tournaments closer and closer to the Slams in terms of promotion and importance. We need to encourage the tournaments to keep growing.” “It is also important to promote the premium product,” Gaudenzi added.

“Fans want to see the top players playing in the biggest events in the world.” These tournaments reforms come under ‘OneVision,’ the Tour’s overarching plan to increase prize money and improve financial transparency in the years to come. Injured Nadal training on grass as he steps up Wimbledon preparations — report Murray withdraws from Queen's due to abdominal injury The pair welcomed the idea of tournament organisers and players working more closely together to more interest in the sport.

“Let's work together to improve our sport, instead of fighting with each other all the time,” Gaudenzi said. “Because the competition is soccer, football, American football, golf, not competing against each other.” “Oh, I agree with that,” Nadal