Carlos Alcaraz has criticized the current tennis calendar, calling it 'impossible' and linking it to a rising number of injuries in the sport. The reigning US Open champion, who recently returned from a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, plans to take more breaks in the future by skipping some tournaments.
Injury Concerns and Schedule Criticism
After defeating Portugal's Jaime Faria in the third round of the US Open, Alcaraz expressed his concerns about the packed tennis schedule. 'Obviously I don't want to have this break because of an injury,' he said. 'But in the future I'm going to take some breaks, some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it's impossible to play them all.'
Alcaraz believes the addition of more important tournaments is forcing players to compete more frequently, leading to fatigue and injuries. 'I think they are adding more important tournaments... you know, in a way they are making us play. You can say no. So it's impossible, and we are seeing a lot of players getting injured, a lot of players getting tired. If they don't do anything about it, we are going to see even more in the future.'
Performance and Future Plans
Despite a sluggish start against Faria, Alcaraz managed to secure a four-set victory, showcasing his resilience and determination. 'Tough match for me. Obviously the first set I was feeling great, I had break point, I missed it,' Alcaraz reflected. 'After that I was in a rush. I didn't take time, I wasn't patient and that obviously cost me the break.'
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is resolute in his decision to prioritize his health by taking more breaks. 'For me, taking this break because of an injury, it wasn't that good, but you know, what I'm going to say is I'm going to take some breaks and miss some tournaments in the future, for sure.' His comments highlight the ongoing debate about player welfare and the sustainability of the current tennis schedule.
