“Probably they are going to kill us in some way,” that’s how Carlos Alcaraz slammed the heavily packed season calendar. And, he got a lot of support for his statement. Although some suggested that the players should plan their own schedule according to their physical well-being, the debate is still going on without any recognition from the authorities. The transition from the China Open to the Shanghai Masters is another example of how hectic the current tennis schedule is.
The event in Shanghai is just hours away but the timing couldn’t be worse for some of the top players on the ATP Tour. Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev are currently competing in the latter stages of the China Open. While this should’ve been a moment to solely focus on the ATP 500 event, the dates of another scheduled event have clashed in a manner that they will have to face tiring consequences.
All three top ranked pros along with Tokyo finalists Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils will have to jump straight into the Masters tournament with almost no rest. The top half of the draw in Shanghai was recently released and the table gives out terrifying slots for some of the top players. Alcaraz, for example, has been in red-hot form as he made it to the finals in China with a commendable win over Medvedev. However, both Alcaraz and Medvedev now face the bizarre situation of barely having time to prepare for the matches in Shanghai.
Although these players get a first-round bye, an extra day off between the two tournaments would have been essential for them to recover and train properly. This scheduling puts them at risk of fatigue and injury, along with the risk of affecting their performances at such a crucial event. This also adds enough justification to the recent debate surrounding the Spaniard’s comments on tight scheduling.
Carlos Alcaraz voiced his frustration over the relentless tennis schedule. “Right now a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of that [injury],” he said, in a press conference at the Laver Cup. Alcaraz, who has played 50 singles matches in 2024, also admitted that the constant travel and matches sometimes impact his motivation, saying, “Sometimes you don’t want to go to a tournament… I don’t feel motivated at all.” These comments highlight the growing concern over player health and scheduling decisions. As soon as the comment started to gain more traction, Jannik Sinner stepped forward to offer his rival an advice.
Jannik Sinner, who recently lifted the US Open trophy, also addressed the challenges posed by the hectic tennis calendar. In a conversation with the press in Beijing, the Italian acknowledged that the schedule is indeed long but highlighted the element of choice that players have. “Yeah, the schedule is quite long obviously these years,” Sinner admitted, in response to the comments made by Carlos Alcaraz about the increasing demands on players. However, the World No.1 took a more balanced view on the matter, making it clear that players can still choose which tournaments to participate in, even though some events, like the Masters 1000, are mandatory.
Sinner pointed out that while the season is packed, players can skip tournaments to focus on rest or practice. “For example, last year and also this year, I didn’t play some tournaments because I wanted to practice,” said Sinner, explaining how he manages the demanding schedule. He accepted that the busy schedule can make things difficult but also dropped an advice for the players to make personal choices to ensure proper balance.
Even with the long season, Sinner has had remarkable success this year. He won two major titles and two Masters 1000 crowns, and has solidified his place in the ATP Tour Finals. Although his suggestion received a mix match of comments, the productivity numbers of his performance graph make it clear that he’s doing well.
