Carlos Alcaraz is planning to take longer, scheduled breaks during future tennis seasons to protect his physical health, warning that the current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) schedule makes it impossible to compete in every tournament without severe risk of injury.
Speaking in New York in comments reported by Agence France-Presse, the Spanish player addressed the physical toll of the professional tennis circuit following his return to competition at the US Open after more than four months out with a wrist injury. Alcaraz argued that the ATP’s demands force athletes into a grueling year-round cycle that compromises player welfare.
“If we play all the tournaments that the ATP asks us to play, we spend 40 weeks [of the year] doing it.”
ATP Penalties and the 40-Week Schedule Debate
The core of the scheduling friction stems from ATP rules that levy financial and ranking penalties on players who miss multiple Masters 1000 tournaments in a single season without a medically justified exemption. Alcaraz criticized this enforcement mechanism directly, pointing out that the current density of the circuit leaves athletes constantly fatigued.
“It’s impossible,” Alcaraz insisted, according to Agence France-Presse coverage. “And we see a lot of players getting injured, a lot who are tired. If they don’t do something [to adapt the calendar], there will be even more [injuries].”
To combat this, the world number three plans to implement breaks lasting one to two months during the season, accepting that he will have to skip marquee events to preserve his longevity on the court.
An Injury-Hit US Open Field
Alcaraz’s remarks coincide with a wave of high-profile absences at Flushing Meadows. World number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the US Open due to a knee injury, while Casper Ruud (ranked 20th) and Joao Fonseca (ranked 26th) pulled out with back and abdominal injuries, respectively.
The physical strain of the modern calendar has drawn criticism from other top competitors as well. World number two Alexander Zverev has repeatedly spoken out against the density of the ATP schedule, particularly highlighting the league’s decision to expand seven of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments into two-week events.
Alcaraz continues his campaign at the US Open, where he entered as the defending champion following his extended recovery from the wrist lesion that sidelined him for over four months.
Worth a look
