Carlos Alcaraz has openly criticized the relentless pace of the professional tennis tour and announced that he intends to start taking extended periods away from competition. The 22‑year‑old Spaniard, who made his comeback after a protracted recovery from a wrist injury suffered in April, successfully defended his US Open crown but used the post‑match interview to highlight the unsustainable nature of the current schedule.
He argued that the sheer volume of mandatory events forces players to compete almost non‑stop, increasing the risk of fatigue and injury, and that a more balanced approach is essential for the longevity of their careers. Alcaraz pointed to the noticeable absence of several top‑ranked players at Flushing Meadows as proof that the calendar is too demanding. World No.
1 Jannik Sinner, Britain's rising star Jack Draper, Denmark's Holger Rune, and Brazil's João Fonseca were all missing, along with a host of other established names. Their withdrawals, Alcaraz suggested, underscore a systemic problem: the tour is packed with too many high‑stakes tournaments, leaving little room for recovery.
"I took more time off than I wanted, to be honest," Alcaraz said after rallying from a set down to defeat Jaime Faria in the second round. "But looking at how tight the calendar is, I don't want to be forced into another break because of an injury. In the future, I'm going to take some breaks—maybe not four months, but one or two months—by skipping certain events, because it's impossible to play them all." He went on to explain that the ATP appears to be adding more "important" tournaments, effectively compelling players to participate or risk losing ranking points and prize money.
"You can say 'no', you can keep one or two," he added, indicating that players should have the freedom to curate their own schedules. Alcaraz emphasized that the current model forces athletes to be on court for roughly 40 weeks a year if they attempt to meet every mandatory requirement, a workload that inevitably leads to burnout. "There are Masters 1000 events, Grand Slams, and then the rest of the calendar.
If we try to play every single one, it's simply impossible," he warned. "We're already seeing a lot of players get injured and exhausted. If the governing bodies don't address this, the problem will only get worse." Alcaraz admitted that his recent layoff, which was caused by injury rather than a strategic decision, was far from ideal. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his commitment to incorporating planned breaks into his future routine, stating, "I'm definitely going to miss some tournaments moving forward." The sentiment was echoed by former doubles champion Jamie Murray, who told Sky Sports Tennis that he fully understands the players' perspective.
Murray noted that the modern tour demands more time away from home than ever before, and younger athletes are observing how legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal extended their careers by carefully managing their schedules. "If they want to keep playing into their mid‑30s, they'll have to skip certain events, and the tour needs to take that into account," Murray said. Alcaraz's comments arrive at a time when the tennis world is grappling with a broader conversation about player welfare. The ATP has faced criticism for its emphasis on expanding the calendar with new tournaments, especially in emerging markets, while also maintaining a dense cluster of mandatory events in Europe and North America.
Critics argue that this approach prioritizes commercial interests over the health of the athletes, leading to a cycle of injuries that can derail promising careers. In response to these concerns, some players have begun to advocate for a more flexible structure, proposing options such as reduced mandatory draws, longer off‑season periods, and the possibility of rotating mandatory events so that not every top player is required to compete in every tournament each year. These ideas aim to preserve the sport's global reach while granting athletes the breathing room they need to stay healthy and perform at their best.
Alcaraz will face Chinese world No. 113 Wu Yibing in the third round on Friday, a match that will test his form after the recent hiatus. Regardless of the outcome, his broader message about schedule reform is likely to resonate with many of his peers, who are increasingly vocal about the toll that a near‑year‑round season takes on their bodies and personal lives.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with additional streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app. As the tournament progresses, the debate over scheduling will remain a hot topic, especially if more top players choose to sit out future events in pursuit of a healthier balance between competition and recovery.