“They force us to play too many tournaments,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals intense scheduling pressure ahead of exhibition match with Rafael Nadal

The World No. 2 was quite critical of the packed Tour schedule that makes things difficult for the players to manage during the season.

“They force us to play too many tournaments,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals intense scheduling pressure ahead of exhibition match with Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal (via IMAGO)

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has become the latest big name of the sport to criticize the ATP Tour for its exploitation of players. Exploitation with regard to a packed calendar that sees the players getting very limited time for themselves.

At times, players return to the court within 24 hours after they last played a match. The difficulty is that the two matches could be at two different events located on separate continents. The little time to recover followed by jet lag and then adapting to the new place becomes extremely taxing for players.

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This often leads to frequent injuries leaving the players further frustrated. The Tour is accused of milking the players for revenue and not worrying about the safety and well-being of the players. Alcaraz felt no different and was critical of the Andrea Gaudenzi-led committee for not caring about the players.

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Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are set to play an exhibition match in Las Vegas titled the ‘Netflix Slam‘. The younger Spaniard talked about how difficult the Tour schedule has made for players to enjoy the exhibition events. 

Currently, the calendar is too demanding. If you start the season in the first week of competition, you have to leave home on December 25 or 26 and you don't finish until the beginning of next December. It's almost a year of non-stop traveling and doing competition tours.
Said Alcaraz. 
I think they force us to play too many tournaments and it seems to me that the calendar is too extensive. In the end what the ATP does is play with the health of the tennis players by having to spend so much time at the highest level, tournament after tournament.
Added the two-time Major winner.

He then commented on needing a change and a favorable solution for all parties involved. The complaints are not only limited to the ATP Tour but also to the WTA Tour often voiced by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

Carlos Alcaraz to return to action later in the day

The reigning Wimbledon champ will be back on the Tour for the first time since his quarter-final exit at the 2024 Australian Open. He is defending his title at the ATP-250 event in Buenos Aires, making his debut on clay for the season.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz with his 2023 Argentina Open trophy (image via IMAGO)

Having received a bye in the first round being the top seed, he will start his campaign directly in the second round. He will take the court against the local boy Camilo Carabelli.

The Argentine defeated Juan Varillas in the first round to make his place in the second. Carabelli is in the main-draw after coming through the qualifiers. This will be the first meeting between Alcaraz and the World No. 134.

Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka, Diego Schwartzman, and eighth-seeded Arthur Fils suffered first-round exits at the tournament. Fourth-seeded and local favorite Francisco Cerundolo made it to the second round but lost in the all-Argentine tie against Facundo Diaz Acosta.

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