Carlos Alcaraz says tennis calendar is heading in the 'wrong direction'

Speaking ahead of the Shanghai Masters, the seven-time Grand Slam champion said the schedule was contributing to player injuries and called on ATP officials to consider the concerns of players.

"One of the reasons we had to see the players who are getting injured, they [ATP officials] are pushing us too much out of the line sometimes to play a lot of tournaments, to play a lot of matches," Alcaraz said, according to Sky Sports.

"It's getting in the wrong direction. I just wish Jannik [Sinner] the best for these months, just to be in good shape for the next season. Hopefully see him soon, but they have to see a little bit what's going on on the tour along with the players."

Alcaraz's comments follow similar concerns raised by Norway's Casper Ruud in May 2025. Ruud criticised the ATP ranking system, saying the mandatory tournament requirements placed pressure on players.

"It's kind of like a rat race when it comes to the rankings as well. You feel you're obligated to play with certain rules that the ATP have set up with the mandatory events," Ruud said at the time.

Eight of the nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments are mandatory for eligible players, alongside four ATP 500 events.

Several Masters 1000 tournaments have also expanded from one-week events to longer competitions, increasing the time players spend on the tour.

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