Alcaraz Slams Heavy Tennis Schedule and Expresses Concern Over Sinner Injury

Carlos Alcaraz has arrived at the Shanghai Masters following his triumph in Tokyo, but once again the tennis star is launching a sharp critique of the overloaded professional tennis calendar. The Spaniard, who himself was forced to miss four months earlier this year due to a wrist injury, argues that the physical burden placed on players has crossed the line. He also expressed deep concern over the injury of his great rival, Jannik Sinner, who is not expected to return to the courts before 2027.

"One of the reasons we are seeing so many players get injured is that they are pushing us too much, sometimes even beyond the limit, to play in too many tournaments and too many matches," Alcaraz said ahead of the tournament's opening. "We are heading in the wrong direction. I wish Jannik all the best in the coming months so he can return in good shape next season. I hope to see him soon, but the authorities need to examine what is happening on the tour together with the players."

The Debate Over Tour Fatigue

Journalist Richie Mills agreed in a column published on Tennis365 with the general criticism regarding the tour's structure, but cast doubt on whether match congestion is the appropriate explanation for Sinner's specific case. Mills pointed out that men's tennis features mandatory Masters 1000 events and extended two-week formats, leaving players with a remarkably short off-season.

"Alcaraz is definitely right on this point. In what other sport do the stars finish the season in November, before starting all over again in late December or early January?" Mills asked, emphasizing the demanding nature of the modern calendar.

Analyzing Sinner's Schedule

However, when analyzing Sinner's situation, Mills presented a different perspective, noting that the Italian participated in only nine tournaments between January and July. Comparing this to players like Alexander Zverev, who played significantly more matches, Mills argued that the schedule alone may not fully explain Sinner's lengthy absence, while still agreeing that structural reforms and a longer off-season are desperately needed in professional tennis.