World number one tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz, has voiced his frustration over the packed and exhausting tennis calendar, describing the numerous mandatory tournaments and lengthy event formats as both physically and mentally draining.
The professional tennis season stretches over 11 months, encompassing ATP, WTA, and ITF events, including the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
For years, players have complained about the lack of rest and recovery time between events.
Speaking in an interview with the PA news agency, Alcaraz defended his decision to take part in exhibition matches, saying they are far less demanding than regular tour competitions.
“I think that it’s a discussion that a lot of players and a lot of people are talking about with the calendar, how tight it is with a lot of tournaments and the tournaments of two weeks, and then making some, I’m going to say, excuses with exhibitions, how players are complaining about the calendar and then playing some exhibitions.
“All I can say is that it’s a really different format, different situation playing exhibitions than the official tournaments, having 15, 16 days in row, having such a high focus and demanding physically. That’s why, because we’re just having fun for one or two days and playing some tennis and I think that’s great, and I think that’s why we choose sometimes the exhibitions.”
Alcaraz further explained that while he understands the criticism from fans, many people fail to grasp how intense the professional circuit can be compared to exhibition events.
“Obviously I understand [the criticism], but sometimes the people don’t understand us, our opinions. When I see a lot of people complaining about how we are defending the exhibitions, I don’t understand them because, as I said, it’s not really demanding mentally [compared to] when we’re having such long events, like two weeks or two-and-a-half weeks. It’s really tough.”
The Spaniard’s remarks echo a growing sentiment among players calling for a review of the sport’s relentless schedule to protect athletes’ health and longevity.
