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Tsitsipas Criticizes Two-Week ATP Masters Format, Calling It a Drag

Stefanos Tsitsipas has voiced his concerns over the growing trend of stretching ATP Masters 1000 tournaments to two weeks, arguing that it leads to a decline in match quality due to insufficient recovery and training time. Currently, five Masters tournaments span two weeks, and starting in 2025, the ATP plans to extend seven out of nine events to 12 days each. This shift, however, has been met with pushback from players, who argue that the longer schedule affects both their physical condition and the intensity of the matches.

Tsitsipas responded to former player Andy Roddick, who had expressed on his podcast that two-week Masters events are “so stupid,” noting that they seem to lead to more injuries. He suggested that a one-week event would allow players to recover and focus on building their bodies during the off-weeks. Tsitsipas echoed this sentiment, saying, “The two-week Masters 1000s have turned into a drag. The quality has definitely dropped. Players aren’t getting the recovery or training time they need with constant matches and no space for the intense work off the court,” in a post on X.

Tsitsipas isn’t alone in his concerns. Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has previously criticized the tight calendar, noting that the relentless schedule affects players’ motivation and raises injury risks. Alexander Zverev, another prominent player, added that while the longer events may benefit lower-ranked players by giving them more opportunities to compete, they place added strain on top players who consistently aim to reach the tournament finals. As Zverev noted, “Resting is when you’re spending time at home… That’s what resting is.” This pushback from players highlights the growing tension between the ATP’s scheduling decisions and the physical and mental demands of high-level tennis.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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