Andrey Rublev, the world No. 16 and recent Hong Kong Open doubles finalist, has expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of a significantly reduced ATP tour calendar. Despite acknowledging the physical and mental toll of a demanding schedule, Rublev believes that the prospect of tennis authorities agreeing to a substantial cut in the number of tournaments is unrealistic.
Rublev's comments come after a season where he felt "exhausted and burnt out" following participation in 26 tournaments across 15 countries and four continents. He concluded his 2025 season in October, after a year that commenced on December 27, 2024, and culminated with the ATP and Davis Cup finals in November, followed by the Next Gen finals in December.
Following a two-month break and an off-season training period overseen by coaches, including Marat Safin, Rublev appeared revitalized at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. He reached the semi-finals in singles, losing a close match to Lorenzo Musetti, and also contested the doubles semi-final with Karen Khachanov.
Despite the benefits of the time off, Rublev remains unconvinced that the sport's governing bodies will significantly condense the season. He likened the chances of a calendar reduction to the impossibility of "not lift[ing] a finger, rest[ing] for 24 hours every day and still be world No. 1". "The conversation [about fewer tournaments] is an illusion," he stated. "It's an ideal, there's no point dreaming about something that can't happen now".
ATP rules mandate that top-30 players participate in the four Grand Slams, nine Masters 1000 events, and four ATP 500 tournaments annually, in addition to the ATP Finals if they qualify. While the number of ATP 500 competitions was recently reduced from five to four, Rublev seems to view this as a minor adjustment rather than a fundamental shift.
Rublev's concerns echo previous comments about the demanding nature of the ATP schedule. In 2023, he criticized the scheduling at the Paris Masters, where late finishes left players with minimal recovery time before their next matches. He sarcastically thanked the ATP for the "amazing schedule," highlighting the challenges players face in balancing competition and rest.
Rublev's recent performances include winning the 2024 Hong Kong Open, defeating Emil Ruusuvuori in the final. It marked his 15th ATP Tour singles title. In 2025, despite an intense off-season training regimen under coach Marat Safin, Rublev experienced inconsistent results, falling out of the top 10 for the first time since October 2020. He aims to improve his Grand Slam performance, having reached the quarter-finals of all four majors but never progressing further.
Despite his skepticism about calendar changes, Rublev appears committed to preparing thoroughly for the 2026 season. His participation in the Hong Kong Open served as preparation for the Australian Open.
