LONDON(AP) - The ATP is extending the offseason in men's tennis to seven weeks, starting in 2012.
The decision announced Sunday at the ATP World Tour Finals was approved by the ATP Board ahead of the season-ending event at the O2 Arena in London.
The ATP has had about five weeks of offseason, from the end of the ATP finals until the start of the following season in January.
ATP president Adam Helfant says ``the length of the offseason is arguably the biggest issue confronting the sport of tennis, and it was the responsibility of the ATP to find a way to address the problem.''