Carlos Alcaraz has openly criticized the relentless pace of the professional tennis circuit and announced that he intends to sit out certain events moving forward. The 22‑year‑old Spaniard, who made his return to competition after a prolonged recovery from a wrist injury suffered in April, was defending his US Open crown when he addressed the issue.
He argued that the current tour itinerary makes it virtually impossible for players to contest every premier tournament without jeopardising their health. Alcaraz highlighted the recent withdrawals of several high‑profile players as clear evidence that the calendar is overly demanding and will continue to generate injuries if left unchanged. Among the notable absentees at Flushing Meadows were world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, rising British talent Jack Draper, as well as Holger Rune, João Fonseca and a host of other competitors.
Their absence underscored a growing trend: top athletes are increasingly forced to choose between competing and preserving their bodies. After rallying from a set down to defeat Jaime Faria in the second round, Alcaraz spoke candidly about his own experience. "I took more time off than I wanted, to be honest," he said, acknowledging that the tight schedule left him with little choice. "I don’t want to be forced into another break because of injury, but the calendar is so compressed that a break becomes inevitable." Looking ahead, he outlined a new approach to his season planning.
"In the future I’m going to take some breaks—maybe not four months, but a month or two, missing a few tournaments—because it’s impossible to play them all," he explained. He added that the ATP’s expanding roster of mandatory events, especially the Masters 1000s and Grand Slams, has pushed the season to roughly 40 weeks for players who attempt to meet every requirement. "You can say ‘no’ to some events, keep one or two, but the pressure to play everything is huge," Alcaraz noted.
He warned that the current model is already taking a toll. "We’re seeing a lot of players getting injured and exhausted. If nothing changes, we’ll see even more injuries in the future," he cautioned. While his own recent lay‑off was not ideal, he emphasized that strategic rest periods will be essential for longevity.
"Taking this break because of injury wasn’t great, but I’m committed to scheduling regular breaks and missing certain tournaments going forward," he affirmed. The conversation resonated with former doubles champion Jamie Murray, who told Sky Sports Tennis that he fully understands the players’ perspective. Murray pointed out that the tour now demands more days away from home than ever before, and that younger players are watching veterans like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal extend their careers by managing their schedules wisely. "If they want to play until they’re 34, 35 or even 36, they’ll have to skip some events.
The tour needs to take that into account," Murray said. Alcaraz’s remarks come at a time when the tennis world is grappling with how to balance commercial interests with athlete welfare.
The ATP has faced criticism for adding more high‑profile tournaments, which in turn compresses the off‑season and leaves little recovery time. Players, coaches, and medical staff have all called for a more sustainable calendar that reduces the risk of overuse injuries and mental fatigue.
In practical terms, Alcaraz’s plan could involve prioritising the four Grand Slam events and a select few Masters 1000 tournaments, while opting out of smaller ATP 500 or 250 events that fall in between. Such a strategy would allow him to maintain peak performance for the most prestigious titles while giving his body the rest it needs to avoid chronic issues. The Spaniard’s next challenge at the US Open will be a third‑round match against Chinese world No. 113 Wu Yibing on Friday.
Whether he can sustain his high level of play while managing a lighter schedule remains to be seen, but his willingness to speak out may spark a broader dialogue about reforming the tennis calendar. Fans can continue to follow the US Open live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app. The tournament runs through early September, and the Laver Cup will follow later in the month at the O2 Arena in London, also broadcast on Sky Sports. As the season unfolds, the conversation about player rest and schedule optimization is likely to intensify, with Alcaraz’s candid comments adding a prominent voice to the debate.