Carlos Alcaraz has openly criticized the relentless pace of the professional tennis circuit and announced that he intends to start skipping certain events moving forward. The 22‑year‑old Spaniard, who recently made his comeback after a prolonged absence caused by a wrist injury sustained in April, returned to the US Open to defend the title he won last year. In the aftermath of his second‑round victory over Jaime Faria, Alcaraz reflected on the toll that a packed schedule takes on players and hinted that he will deliberately schedule longer breaks for his own health and longevity. Alcaraz noted that the current calendar leaves little room for recovery, making it "impossible for players to compete in every major event without risking burnout." He pointed to the conspicuous absences of several high‑profile competitors as clear evidence that the tour’s demands are unsustainable.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Britain’s rising star Jack Draper, Denmark’s Holger Rune, Brazil’s João Fonseca and a host of other top‑ranked athletes were missing from the Flushing Meadows draw, underscoring a growing pattern of withdrawals linked to fatigue and injury. "I took more time off than I wanted, to be honest," Alcaraz said after rallying from a set down to beat Faria.
"But looking at how tight the calendar is, I don’t want to force another break because of an injury. In the future I’m going to take some breaks – maybe not four months, but a month or two – and miss a few tournaments, because it’s simply impossible to play them all." He went on to explain that the ATP’s schedule has become increasingly crowded with mandatory events, including a slew of Masters 1000 tournaments and the four Grand Slams.
"If we tried to compete in every required event, we’d be on the road for about forty weeks a year," he said. "That’s not realistic.
We’re already seeing a surge in injuries and exhaustion. If the governing bodies don’t address this, the problem will only get worse." Alcaraz’s comments echo a broader conversation within the sport about player welfare. Former doubles champion Jamie Murray, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, expressed empathy for Alcaráz’s stance.
"I can totally understand it from the players' perspective," Murray said. "The tour is longer than it’s ever been in terms of commitment and days away from home. Younger players have watched legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal stretch their careers by being selective about which tournaments they enter. If the next generation wants to play into their mid‑30s, they’ll need to skip events, and the tour has to take that into account." The underlying issue is the structure of the ATP calendar, which obliges top players to appear at a set of mandatory tournaments in order to retain their rankings and prize money.
While this system ensures that fans see the biggest names at the sport’s marquee events, it also forces athletes into a near‑year‑round grind with little downtime for rest, rehabilitation, or personal life. Alcaraz’s suggestion to incorporate "long breaks" could signal a shift toward a more flexible model, where players have greater autonomy over their schedules.
If Alcaraz follows through on his plan, his upcoming third‑round match against Chinese world No. 113 Wu Yibing will be one of the few contests he plays before potentially sitting out a stretch of the season. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to follow the tournament even as the conversation about the tour’s future unfolds. In summary, Carlos Alcaraz is using his platform to call attention to the unsustainable nature of the modern tennis calendar.
By pledging to take strategic breaks and miss select tournaments, he hopes to protect his own health and set a precedent for his peers. The growing list of withdrawals at major events, combined with insights from veteran players like Jamie Murray, suggests that the sport may soon need to reevaluate its schedule to balance commercial interests with the long‑term well‑being of its athletes.