Tennis Players Criticise Late-Night Paris Masters Scheduling; Jannik Sinner Withdraws Citing Fatigue, Tsitsipas and Djokovic Advance to Semifinals

Players label late-night scheduling in Paris Masters a "joke", triggering a debate on players' welfare; ATP CEO promises solutions.

The Paris Masters tennis tournament has faced criticism from multiple players, including Casper Ruud and Jannik Sinner, over its late-night scheduling. Schedules have resulted in matches ending past 2 AM.
Jannik Sinner, who recently won titles in Beijing and Vienna, withdrew from the tournament citing fatigue due to late-night scheduling. His second-round match against Mackenzie McDonald concluded at 2:37 AM and his next game was scheduled for the afternoon.
Stan Wawrinka pointed out the inconsistencies in terms of balls used in games, noting that his last four tournaments each used a ball from a different company. Players argue that constant adjustments to changing balls and surfaces add to the risk of injuries.
In response to the criticism, Andrea Gaudenzi, chief executive of the Association of Tennis Professionals, promised solutions to the issue of late-night finishes and inconsistent balls. A debate is expected to occur in Turin in two weeks.
Novak Djokovic overcame a stomach virus to secure a spot in the Paris Masters semifinals, defeating Holger Rune. Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced to the semifinals, garnering his 300th career win.