Roddick blasts tour calendar

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-13 09:38

SHANGHAI: An exasperated Andy Roddick said the ATP men's tour must give players more time to rest during the season or risk shortening the careers of the "stars" of the sport.

The world No 6 lost to qualifier Lukasz Kubot in the first match of his title defense at the China Open last week and said then that the top players were playing too much tennis.

He renewed his attack at the Shanghai Masters yesterday while admitting the ultimate negotiating tool, a players' strike, was unlikely.

"I think it's ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate offseason to rest, get healthy and then train," the 27-year-old said at his 16th tournament of the season.

World No 1 Roger Federer pulled out of Shanghai citing fatigue, while No 3 Andy Murray blamed a wrist injury for his absence from the inaugural $3.24 million tournament.

"I don't think that's all one big coincidence and I just hope that the shortsightedness doesn't affect the length of careers," he said. "I think in tennis you definitely want your stars around as long as possible."

The top 30 men's players are obliged to play the four two-week Grand Slam events and eight of the nine Masters Series tournaments.

Reuters