The ATP Tour's reshaped 2026 calendar has removed the Hellenic Championship, a beloved event for Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka. The tournament, relocated to Athens last year, will not return, leaving a gap before the ATP Finals. Players have voiced concerns over the evolving schedule amid plans for new high-level events.
The ATP Tour trimmed its 250-level events to 30 for 2026, with significant late-season adjustments. The Hellenic Championship, held in Athens from November 2 to 8 in 2025 on indoor hard courts at the OAKA Basketball Arena, has been dropped. It was one of two tournaments leading into the ATP Finals, alongside the Metz Open; neither will occur this year. Instead, the Stockholm Open takes the slot from November 8 to 15, with plans shifting it back to October in 2027 and placing the regular season's final week in Brussels. The event's license belongs to Novak Djokovic's family, who have organized multiple tournaments in Belgrade since 2021, including five ATP 250s. Djokovic won the Athens edition, defeating Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his 101st career title. He praised the atmosphere, saying, “It’s the first tournament at this level here in over 30 years... Playing here feels like home.” Stan Wawrinka also cherished it, noting, “Last year I played Athens. It was [a] great, great, great tournament. I really enjoyed that. So might play the last one there.” The changes coincide with ATP plans to add a Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia from 2028 while reducing 250 events. Wawrinka criticized the trend: “So far, it’s been about adding more tennis rather than cutting back the schedule. ... The season is really long.” Chilean player Cristian Garín highlighted travel burdens for non-Europeans, saying South American flights to Europe are costly and lengthy compared to regional hops.