Carlos Alcaraz claims ATP calendar is ‘getting too much’
Carlos Alcaraz has spoken about the toll that the busy schedule has had on him, with the Spaniard admitting that he sometimes ‘does not feel motivated at all’.
Alcaraz is currently in Berlin making his debut at the Laver Cup, with the 21-year-old the only player to get a victory for Team Europe on day two after beating Ben Shelton in straight sets.
Back in business.@carlosalcaraz earns a vital two points for Team Europe.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/iRdaEyaUN1
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 21, 2024
The World No.3 has had another successful season, winning two more Grand Slams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as retaining the Indian Wells title.
Despite his continued success, Alcaraz revealed that sometimes he does not want to play tournaments, “Well, honestly it is difficult. I mean, sometimes I didn’t feel motivated at all. It is a difficult moment. As I said many times, you know, the calendar is so tight, a lot of tournaments, no days off or not as many days off as I want.”
He continued, “Sometimes I really want to take some days for myself that I can’t because I have to practice, I have to travel, I have to, you know, the jet lag sometimes when you’re travelling around the world. So sometimes you don’t want to go to tournaments, I’m not gonna lie.
“I have been feeling this, you know, this feeling a few times already that I don’t want to go to that tournament because I want to stay at home with my family or my friend.”
Alcaraz is not the only player to express their concerns over the busy tennis calendar in recent weeks, with Jack Draper and WTA No.1 Iga Swiatek also doing so.
However, the five-time major winner appears to think that his schedule is only likely to get busier in future years.
“And a lot of players say that it’s really tight and a lot of tournaments during the whole year,” said Alcaraz. “I’m the kind of player who thinks there is a lot of tournaments during the year, mandatory tournaments and probably during the next few years gonna be even more tournaments, more mandatory tournaments. So, I mean, probably they are going to kill us in some way (smiling).
“Right now they are showing up a lot of injuries because of the ball, because of the calendar, because of a lot of things. So probably at some point a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of that because they have to think about their bodies, they have to take care of their love.”
The Murcian added, “I mean, they have family, they have a lot of other stuff in life than tennis. So they have to take care of it, as well. So it’s getting too much, I guess.”
Alcaraz will need to be motivated in the final day of Laver Cup action, as he looks to inspire Team Europe to a comeback victory from 8-4 down.
Competing in two matches in Berlin later today, Alcaraz will play doubles alongside Casper Ruud, before playing singles against Taylor Fritz.
Great win today! 💪🏻 WE ARE STILL IN THE FIGHT EUROPE! 😍 @LaverCup
📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/AGbUy7O4nr
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 21, 2024
Inside the baseline…
It is interesting that Carlos Alcaraz has admitted to not having much motivation sometimes, as you would never know when he plays as he usually looks so happy. Motivation does not appear to be an issue for Alcaraz at the Laver Cup though, especially with his idol Roger Federer watching on. Alcaraz makes a very good point about the problems with the tennis calendar, but his point is slightly lessened when he has signed up for exhibitions in Saudi Arabia that there is no obligation to play.
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