Overview
- Brad Stine argued players are independent contractors who can skip weeks if they accept the ranking and financial consequences.
- Stine praised Felix Auger‑Aliassime’s stance, highlighting the view that players unhappy with volume can simply play less.
- He proposed scrapping first‑round byes at Masters 1000 and other events to remove what he sees as an unfair advantage for top seeds.
- Recent comments from Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and others describe the season as too long, with some saying they may skip mandatory events to protect their health.
- The dispute sits alongside a 2025 PTPA lawsuit seeking scheduling and welfare changes, while ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has publicly defended the current calendar and reports cite increased retirements and walkovers as evidence of strain.