Is February dispensable in tennis?
The wave of resignations, both in ATP and WTA tournaments, after the Australian Open, raises the question of a month that, in turn, hosts some of the favorite tournaments for many fans.
"But, there's no tennis going on now, right?" is one of the phrases that a tennis fan hears the most in the month of February, just after an intense Australian Open where the general public shows interest, although it always depends on the schedule and the players who share their flag at the beginning of the season.
It seems that this is also a phrase that resonates in the subconscious of some players who don't understand why their owners, after a few weeks on the other side of the world, choose to spend a few more weeks in Europe, South America, the United States, or the Middle East, when the payoff may not be worth the effort. And this applies to both ATP and WTA players.
Looking from the perspective of a Top 20 player, after the initial peak of intensity with the first Grand Slam of the year, this month of February seems unnecessary in the tennis calendar. Just weeks away from the start of the North American hard court swing in Indian Wells and Miami, switching to the clay courts of South America, the aggressiveness of indoor European hard courts, or the humidity and dry climate of the Persian Gulf, is neither beneficial to their physical nor mental well-being.
Bad experiences of some players during this month make them cautious
The two most recent cases in the ATP occurred in the last two years of the South American clay court swing. In 2024, Carlos Alcaraz twisted his ankle in Rio de Janeiro and almost jeopardized his presence at Indian Wells. While last year, Alexander Zverev played in Buenos Aires, Rio, and Acapulco with the intention of climbing to the top spot in the rankings, but his results were a disaster, marking the start of a forgettable 2025. "I didn't play very good tennis either; maybe it wasn't the best choice in the end," said the German weeks later.
Even the current world number one, who last season swapped South America for Rotterdam, almost forgot at the end of 2025 that he had won that title when he listed all his successes. In fact, this year he has decided not to participate, a decision that did not surprise the tournament director: "It wasn't surprising, I expected it."
In the women's realm, the perception is similar. Despite the WTA hosting its first two WTA 1000 events of the year in Doha and Dubai, the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, along with other Top 20 players like Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Iva Jovic, and Marta Kostyuk, have opted out of WTA Doha, and it remains to be seen if they will participate in Dubai.
Some online users, not necessarily to be taken seriously, suggest that February is the real pre-season and that the season truly kicks off in Indian Wells and Miami. Additionally, in 2028, this month seems likely to host the tenth ATP Masters 1000 event, which will take place in Saudi Arabia and will last a week, optional, resembling Monte Carlo style.
However, from a tennis fan's standpoint, this second month of the year hosts, for many, the most evenly contested, passionate, and exciting clay court swing on the circuit. Starting with Buenos Aires, passing through Rio de Janeiro, and finishing in Santiago de Chile. Three tournaments where endless battles are fought and a chance for South American talents to showcase themselves.
As Andy Murray said a couple of years ago, "Unpopular opinion: South America should have its own tour with its Masters series; the way fans support tournaments there is incredible. Tennis is clearly part of their sports culture." Yet, the future Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia could further push them into the isolation they are experiencing.
With increasingly packed calendars, longer tournaments, and unprecedented competitiveness, February becomes a nightmare for many players who wish to 'simulate,' as if it were a video game; an annoyance for the general public but a month of enjoyment and a return to the roots for the most passionate fans of this sport. Is February dispensable or not?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Es prescindible el mes de febrero en el tenis?