'Once that deadline passes, you're locked in': Why the ATP scheduling system is broken

Washington Open. (Getty/Scott Taetsch)

From player burnout to doping controversies, the ATP and WTA have had their leadership tested throughout 2025.

But another problematic issue has surfaced in the form of the scheduling system, recently voiced by world No.283 Karue Sell.

The 31-year-old highlighted a massive flaw in the ATP's scheduling process, arguing that lower-ranked players who aren't guaranteed a main draw berth are the ones suffering.

"To sign up for ATP Challenger and tour events, we use this system called Player Zone," Sell shared.

"The entry deadline to sign up for events is usually about three weeks before the tournament. You can sign up for multiple in that same week, and you can set up your priority in case there's one place that you really want to play, but once that deadline passes, you're locked in.

"For each tournament, you sign up for the main draw and the qualies. So, there's two entry lists. If you get directly accepted into either one of those lists, the system automatically pulls you out of the other events.

"If you're not a direct acceptance, you will be on the alternate list. If you're on the alternate list, you're good; nothing happens, but throughout those two, two and a half weeks leading up to the tournament, a lot of players pull out... and the list moves.

"Problem is, it punishes you if you are trying to play bigger events."

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The Brazilian shared an example of how the system handicaps players from entering higher-calibre tournaments.

"[I played] a 75k Challenger in Granby, Canada. At the same week, there's also an ATP 250 in Los Cabos.

"After the entry deadline, a lot of players pulled out of Los Cabos. As a result, the list moved a lot, but all of the players who were already directly accepted in [the] Granby main draw or qualies were automatically pulled out of the list in Los Cabos."

He clarified that "if you take the risk going to the tour-level event and you don't get in, then you cannot play anything that week. It's an unnecessary gamble."

Nick Kyrgios commented on Sell's video with one word: "Facts".

The Los Cabos event, held last week, included nine players inside the top 100, and two players inside the top 30.

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