Brad Gilbert, a former tennis pro and noted tennis pundit who recently wrapped up a coaching stint with French Open champion Coco Gauff, has suggested a plan to conduct a Masters 1000 event during the relatively shorter grass season.
The grass season is the shortest among all seasons on the tour. While the early part of the year is dedicated to hard courts, the clay-court swing dominates a good two months on the tennis calendar. The grass season, which culminates at Wimbledon, is sandwiched between the clay-court swing and the American hard-court season and the season finale on indoor hard-courts.
Notably, there has been a glaring absence of a 1000 tournament for both men and women during the grass swing. This is largely believed to be due to the maintenance costs and challenges associated with the surface.
Brad Gilbert Has Named Two Tournaments Which Could Serve as a 1000 Tournament on Grass
Brad Gilbert, 63, was one of the finest players of his generation, ascending to as high as No. 4 in the ATP rankings at one point. Post retirement, he transitioned to a coaching role with the likes of Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Kei Nishikori, and Coco Gauff. Notably, he helped script a turnaround in Agassi’s fortunes when the latter hit a rough patch, and was part of the Agassi team when he won six of his eight Grand Slams.
Due to his immense wealth of experience, Gilbert’s punditry of the sport is also regarded highly. Gilbert weighed in on the possibility of a 1000 tournament on grass while reacting to a “Tennis Channel” post on the subject.
The official X handle of Tennis Channel recently asked its viewers where a 1000 tournament on grass should be held.
Probably split then between Halle and Queens 🤴 every other year
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) June 12, 2025
“Probably split then between Halle and Queens every other year,” Gilbert wrote in response.
Notably, the 500-level grass tournaments at Halle in Germany and Queens in England are the most prestigious after Wimbledon, with a long history. Held since 1993, the Halle Open often attracts some of the biggest names on tour. Tennis legend Roger Federer is the most decorated player on the turf, with 10 championships.
The Queen’s Club Championships, on the other hand, is held for both men and women on the grass courts at the Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London. Its history dates back to 1881, when it was known as the London Athletic Club Tournament or officially the London Athletic Club Open Tournament. On the men’s side, Andy Murray has won the most championships (six).
The ATP has reportedly explored the possibility of adding a grass-court Masters 1000, particularly in Britain, to coincide with the Wimbledon Championships.
Andy Roddick Explained Why Grass Doesn’t Have a Masters 1000 Tournament
Andy Roddick, another former player turned tennis commentator, shared his thoughts regarding the absence of a Masters 1000 tournament on grass. On his podcast “Served with Andy Roddick”, the former US Open champion explained why there are no grass-court Masters 1000.
“The courts at the end of Wimbledon are in ruins,” Roddick said, noting the difficulty of training late in the tournament. He recalled Federer getting only 45 minutes of practice a day while he was gunning for his sixth title.
Most venues also lack Wimbledon’s full infrastructure—“practice courts, locker rooms, parking, and hospitality”—making such a large grass event impractical, as per the former World No. 1.
