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Carlos Alcaraz Warns Packed Tennis Calendar Risks Player Burnout
Carlos Alcaraz says professional tennis players are being asked to play too many tournaments.
He believes the busy schedule can make players tired and more likely to get injured.
Alcaraz missed time this year because of a wrist injury.
He now plans to take breaks lasting one or two months when needed.
He says players cannot safely compete in every important event.
The ATP says players can choose their own schedules.
However, Alcaraz says mandatory tournaments can require players to compete for about 40 weeks.
He warned that more players could get injured if the schedule does not change.
Carlos Alcaraz plans to take longer breaks to avoid injury-related absences.
The world number three said the demanding schedule is causing player fatigue and injuries.
Alcaraz criticized the expansion of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and the resulting workload.
Since 2025, seven of nine Masters 1000 events have been extended to 12 days.
He cited Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Holger Rune and Joao Fonseca among players absent from this year’s US Open.
- Who
- Carlos Alcaraz, the world number three, and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- What
- Alcaraz warned that the packed tennis calendar is contributing to player fatigue, injuries and possible burnout.
- Where
- At the US Open.
- When
- Alcaraz made the comments after his US Open match on Wednesday; seven of nine Masters 1000 events have been expanded since 2025.
- Why
- Alcaraz said expanded tournaments and mandatory events can require players to compete for around 40 weeks, increasing fatigue and injury risks.
Player workload concerns
ATP scheduling position
Control over schedules
Player workload concerns
Alcaraz said players may technically choose their calendars, but mandatory Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams can effectively require them to compete for around 40 weeks.
ATP scheduling position
The ATP said players control their own schedules and that it is working to encourage an appropriate number of matches during the season.
Tournament expansion
Player workload concerns
Alcaraz criticized the addition of more important tournaments and the expansion of most Masters 1000 events, saying the changes make players compete more.
ATP scheduling position
The article reports the ATP has expanded seven of nine Masters 1000 events to 12 days since 2025; it does not provide a detailed response from the ATP to Alcaraz’s criticism.
Injury and fatigue risks
Player workload concerns
Alcaraz said many players are becoming injured and tired and warned that the problem could worsen without changes.
ATP scheduling position
The ATP’s stated approach is to encourage an appropriate number of matches, while the article does not say that it accepts Alcaraz’s assessment of a growing injury toll.
Key facts
- Player
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Ranking
- World number three
- Recent injury
- A wrist injury sustained in April caused a lengthy layoff.
- Return to competition
- Alcaraz returned at the US Open.
- Masters 1000 expansion
- Seven of nine events have been extended to 12 days since 2025.
- Alcaraz’s proposed breaks
- He said he may take breaks of one or two months.
- Players cited as absent
- Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Holger Rune and Joao Fonseca missed this year’s US Open.
Quotes
Carlos Alcaraz
Spanish professional tennis player and world number three
“You can say no and decide your calendar, but there are some Masters 1000s, some Grand Slams, and we are out playing 40 weeks if we have to play every mandatory tournament that the ATP requires us to play.”
rediff.com
“In the future, I'm going to take some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it's impossible to play them all.”
rediff.com
Sources
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