Carlos Alcaraz to skip tournaments over 'impossible'
Carlos Alcaraz says he will take extended breaks from the tour, criticizing the packed tennis calendar as a cause of player injuries and fatigue.
Carlos Alcaraz has criticized the professional tennis schedule as 'impossible' and says he will deliberately skip tournaments in the future. The Spaniard returned to action at the US Open on Thursday after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury sustained in April.
Alcaraz pointed to the crowded calendar and the absence of other top players as evidence the tour is too demanding. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Britain's Jack Draper, Holger Rune, and Joao Fonseca are all missing from the Flushing Meadows draw.
Alcaraz plans future breaks
Speaking after a second-round win over Jaime Faria, Alcaraz outlined his intention to take strategic breaks. He told reporters Tennis that his recent forced layoff was longer than desired, but future breaks would be a conscious choice.
"I'm going to take some breaks, some long breaks." Alcaraz said. He argued the addition of more important tournaments effectively pressures players to compete constantly.
The injury toll of a packed tour
Alcaraz directly linked the schedule to a rising injury rate among players. He warned the situation would worsen without intervention from tour organizers.
"We are seeing a lot of players getting injured, a lot of players getting tired." Alcaraz stated. He noted that playing every mandatory ATP tournament could mean being on tour for many weeks a year.
Jamie Murray backs player concerns
Former doubles specialist Jamie Murray expressed sympathy for the players' perspective. In an interview, he highlighted the increasing commitment required.
"I can totally understand it from the players' perspective. The Tour is longer than it's ever been for commitment and days away from home," Murray said. He suggested younger players are looking at the career longevity of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as a model, which may necessitate skipping events.
Murray added that the tour must balance player welfare with providing opportunities for its full membership. "The Tour is catering for over a hundred players and they want to be out there competing," he said.
Alcaraz continues his US Open title defense against Chinese world No. 113 Wu Yibing in the third round on Friday.
