By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 8, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
Tennis has been called physical chess.
The Rolex Paris Masters put the show on speed this month, prompting players to create moves from all over the board.
The tournament aims to sustain its fast hard courts in the future—with no plans to expand from its current 56-player, draw one week format to a 12-day schedule. Seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events are 12-day tournaments with only the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and Rolex Paris Masters played over one week.
Today, Tournament Director Cédric Pioline said there are three primary reasons the tournament will not expand. Since Paris is played in November at the end of a long season, players are too tired for a two week event, expanding would be more expensive and increase tournament costs and there is not room in the current calendar for expansion.
“If we extend, I mean, you have to pay, it’s extra week, very complicated for the calendar. But to be more specific, I think at the end of a year, it’s better for the players to have, like, a smaller format,” Pioline told the media in Paris. “They are tired, and it’s normal. I don’t know if it’s correct, but Zverev played 84 matches arriving here, which is huge.
“Okay, it’s his choice to play a lot of tournaments, but also, he’s performing. He’s almost going to Final. He went to a final of many, many events this year, so, I mean, we are very happy about this 56 draw, one week. It’s quick, dynamic, very challenging for the players.
“From the first round, we have very attractive matches, so I don’t see why we should do any change. To be honest, of course we are aware about the comments of the players regarding the length of some other Masters 1000. So it’s not really a question. It was not a request from ATP, and it’s not a request from the tournament. So we will stay as we are.”
Some players have called Paris the fastest hard court they’ve played since Cincinnati in August.
Former world No. 5 Pioline, an adept net player with excellent leaping overhead in his prime, said he believes the speedier surface has encouraged more serve-and-volley tennis. Pioline asserts the surface speed has amped up aggressive play creating more entertaining matches for fans.
“I think we had some comments regarding the surface saying, like, it’s faster, which in my opinion it’s good, because we could see through the week that it’s been a long time I didn’t see the players go to the net as much as this week,” Pioline said. “So I think for the show, it’s better. It’s better than too slow.
“So we’ll talk about next year, but I’m sure it will be something close, close to what we had, because in my opinion, it’s positive. ..
“Of course also the surface is faster, so the tennis is more aggressive on this court. And fans really like this venue, made it its own, and we’re delighted about this.”
0 comments