Former world No.1 Jim Courier has expressed surprise at the decision by several top ATP players—including Casper Ruud, Lorenzo Musetti, and Holger Rune—to compete in tournaments scheduled just days before the French Open.
While elite players traditionally avoid tournaments the week before a Grand Slam, multiple big names have committed to the Hamburg Open and Geneva Open, both taking place from May 18–24, with Roland Garros beginning on May 26.
Crowded Fields in Hamburg and Geneva
The ATP 500 Hamburg event boasts an impressive lineup, including:
- Jannik Sinner (World No.1)
- Lorenzo Musetti (No.9)
- Holger Rune (No.10)
- Tommy Paul (No.12)
- Frances Tiafoe (No.16)
- Andrey Rublev (No.17)
- Francisco Cerundolo (No.18)
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.19)
Meanwhile, Geneva will feature:
- Taylor Fritz (No.4)
- Novak Djokovic (No.6)
- Casper Ruud (No.7)
- Grigor Dimitrov (No.15)
- Tomas Machac (No.20)
Courier Weighs In
Courier, speaking on Tennis Channel, said he understands the entries of Sinner—returning from a three-month injury absence—and Djokovic, who has played just two clay matches in 2025.
“Sinner needs matches. Djokovic likely wants two or three to sharpen up before Paris,” he explained.
However, Courier was taken aback by other high-ranked players opting in, suggesting financial motives might be behind the move.
“I’m really shocked to see some of these names. These events can pay significant appearance fees—hundreds of thousands of dollars—just to show up. It’s a commercial decision for some.”
Financial Incentives Raise Eyebrows
Courier pointed to the new ATP 500 bonus pool, offering $3 million to players who compete in at least four ATP 500 events in the season. This may explain the unusually strong fields ahead of a Grand Slam—something rarely seen before majors like Wimbledon, Australian Open, or US Open.
Despite the incentives, Courier warned against short-term gain at the expense of Grand Slam success.
“No amount of appearance money can match the financial and legacy impact of winning Roland Garros. Players need to be cautious—chasing quick money could mean missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
