Roger Federer is expected to lobby behind the scenes with the ATP at the year-end final in London to insure a longer off-season for players, with the Paris Masters top-seed suggesting that six weeks off would not be out of line.
“Four weeks is just not an off-season, really,” said the Swiss, president of the influential ATP Player Council. “Six weeks I think is much better, you can take two weeks off, practise for four weeks, which is a lot for us in our world. I hope tournaments understand it’s in their best interest, as well, I think.”
It’s the second time in a fortnight that the Swiss has addressed the nagging issue. One plans being suggested is that some weeks would be filled with up to four ATP events in an effort to end the campaign a few weeks sooner.
“Obviously some tournaments have to be a little bit flexible. I think over the years we’ve lost a couple of weeks here and there because of some reasons,” said Federer. “It’s time that we shifted back a bit and we get a proper off-season.” The Swiss said that while a shorter season would be helpful, “players like to play,” and suggested that opinion from some quarters that the tennis years end with the early September US Open final is out of order.
“I think we had the top 20 in Shanghai (October), so Asia is becoming stronger and stronger and more important for tennis as well.
“Many guys who had a disappointing US Open, they can make it up in the fall. That’s what’s nice about a long season. It never gets boring,” he said.
