Carlos Alcaraz has issued a stark warning regarding the current tennis calendar, labeling the schedule “impossible” and a primary driver behind the increasing frequency of player injuries. Speaking on Wednesday, the seven-time Grand Slam champion revealed his intention to play fewer tournaments in the future to prioritize his physical well-being.
The Spaniard’s comments followed his victory in the second round of the US Open, where he overcame a slow start to defeat 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria. Alcaraz secured the win in two hours and 40 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a final score of 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
Reflecting on his recent four-month absence due to a wrist injury, Alcaraz admitted that while he had not wanted to spend such a significant period on the sidelines, he now views regular, extended breaks as a necessary component of his career. “Obviously I don’t want to have this break because an injury,” he stated. “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 argued that the sport’s governing bodies are continuously adding high-stakes tournaments to the calendar, effectively forcing players into a cycle of constant competition. He warned that without intervention, the physical toll on athletes will only intensify. “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,” he added.
During his match against Faria, Alcaraz acknowledged some initial rust, noting that his struggles in the opening set stemmed from a missed break point opportunity when he led 4-2. Faria capitalized on the lapse, leveling the set at 3-3 before breaking Alcaraz to take the lead. “Tough match for me. Obviously the first set I was feeling great, I had break point, I missed it,” Alcaraz explained. “After that I was in a rush. I didn’t take time, I wasn’t patient and that obviously cost me the break.”
The momentum shifted decisively in the second set as Faria’s serve faltered and Alcaraz increased the intensity of his groundstrokes. Although Alcaraz faced two break points in the opening game of the second set, he managed to hold, after which he dominated the remainder of the match.
Faria was broken three times in the second set as Alcaraz began to find his rhythm. The Spaniard maintained this pressure into the third set, breaking Faria early to establish a 2-0 lead. Despite Faria briefly responding with a break to make it 2-1, Alcaraz immediately broke back to regain control and eventually took the set.
In the fourth set, Alcaraz secured a double break to move ahead 5-1. He successfully served out the match to seal his progression to the next round, confirming his commitment to a more sustainable schedule moving forward. The report also notes that you know, in a way they are making us play. The report also notes that faria was left ruing his inability to build on an impressive opening set.
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