Comparing Grand Slam vs ATP Masters 1000 starts with the four Grand Slams, the most prestigious tennis competitions: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
The Masters 1000 events are the next tier in the ATP pecking order, and there are nine in a calendar year. The main differences are the ranking points (2,000 vs 1,000), match formats, where Grand Slams are longer (best-of-five sets) as opposed to best-of-three sets for Masters, and Grand Slams have bigger draw sizes.
Our guide is framed around Grand Slams vs ATP Masters 1000, discussing their differences, including prize money amounts.
Grand Slam vs Masters 1000 at a Glance
To kick off our Grand Slam vs ATP Masters 1000 piece, we’ve pointed to how the two tournament types line up against each other. Our handy table illustrates this:
| Feature | Grand Slam | ATP Masters 1000 |
| Number per year | 4 | 9 |
| Organised by | The Grand Slam tournaments/ITF | ATP |
| Winner’s points | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Men’s match format | Best of five sets | Best of three sets |
| Main draw size | 128 | 96 or 56 |
| Duration | Two weeks | Two weeks if a 96-player draw but one week for 56-player draws |
The Four Grand Slams
In men’s tennis, the four Grand Slams are the most sought-after titles in the game. We’ve mentioned when each event is hosted, and presented a unique fact too:
- Australian Open – As the opening Slam of the year in January, it is known as the ‘Happy Slam’ due to the warm atmosphere of the event.
- French Open – Usually taking place at the end of May, Roland Garros is the only clay-court Slam, and it is as much a test of mental strength as technical proficiency due to the slow pace of the surface.
- Wimbledon – The only grass-court Slam, held at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) between June and July, it is also the oldest Slam, dating back to 1877.
- US Open – Staged at the end of August, the US Open, like the Australian Open, is held on hard. The US Open was the first Grand Slam to use the Hawk-Eye system, which double-checks umpiring decisions.
The Nine ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments
There are nine Masters 1000 tournaments held each year, and we’ve listed them below in order they appear on the ATP calendar:
- Indian Wells (March, Hard)
- Miami Open (March, Hard)
- Monte-Carlo (April, Clay)
- Madrid (April–May, Clay)
- Rome (May, Clay)
- Canadian Open (August, Hard)
- Cincinnati Open (August, Hard)
- Shanghai (October, Hard)
- Paris (November, Hard)
The bulk of these events are mandatory, with the exception of the Monte-Carlo Masters, which doesn’t have a compulsory player commitment.
Some of these events have bigger draws (96 players), and therefore take place over 12 days, mimicking the Grand Slams. The Masters tournaments with 96-player draws are as follows: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Montreal, Cincinnati, and Shanghai.
Monte-Carlo and Paris feature smaller, 56-player draws, and take place over a week.
Ranking Points Compared
Our table highlights the points breakdown per round for both tiers:
Grand Slam points for men
| Stage | Points |
| Winner | 2,000 |
| Final | 1,300 |
| Semi-Final | 800 |
| Quarter-Final | 400 |
| Round of 16 | 200 |
| Round of 32 | 100 |
| Round of 64 | 50 |
| Round of 128 | 10 |
Masters 1000 points for men (96-player draws)
| Stage | Points |
| Winner | 1,000 |
| Final | 650 |
| Semi-Final | 400 |
| Quarter-Final | 200 |
| Round of 16 | 100 |
| Round of 32 | 50 |
| Round of 64 | 30 |
| First round (round of 128) | 10 |
In 56-player draws (Monte-Carlo and Paris), the first round gives 10 points.
The rankings are done on a rolling 52-week window, and points from lower tiers such as ATP 250 tournaments count too. Rankings can be impacted by players who are defending points. So, if a player won a Grand Slam the previous year, but was knocked out in the first round the following year, they would drop 1,990 points, which could see them slide down the rankings.
Records and History
The Masters series has run since 1990 and has been called the Masters 1000 since 2009. Novak Djokovic holds the record in both tiers, with 24 major titles and 40 Masters titles. He was also the first player to complete the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine Masters 1000 events, and remains the only player to have done it twice. Jannik Sinner became the second man to complete it in 2026.
Prize Money and Prestige
Grand Slams are more alluring than Masters 1000, and apart from featuring a higher calibre field, the prize money on offer is the largest.
Take Wimbledon for example. The total prize pool for the 2026 Championships was £64.2 million. A cheque of £3.6 million was handed to the men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner, who defeated Alexander Zverev in the Final.
For players, the Grand Slams also decide the sport’s all-time records, as careers are usually measured by the number of majors won. Masters 1000 titles carry less prestige individually, but with nine events worth 1,000 points each, they play a big part in shaping the rankings across the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Masters 1000 tournaments are there?
The ATP Tour calendar features nine Masters 1000 events — Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, Shanghai, and Paris. Six are played on hard courts and three (Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome) on clay.
Do women play Masters 1000 events?
The WTA has its own WTA 1000 tier. Some events, however, are combined with the ATP Tour, such as Indian Wells and Miami.
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