Alcaraz: ATP schedule 'going in wrong direction' — SkimNews
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- Carlos Alcaraz said the tennis schedule is "going in the wrong direction" and accused ATP officials of pushing players out of line to compete in "a lot of tournaments" and "a lot of matches," linking the grind to a surge in injuries.
- Jannik Sinner, the world No 1, announced this week he is shutting down his 2026 season because of a knee problem and has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July 2026.
- Alcaraz missed four and a half months between April and August 2026 with a wrist injury but successfully defended his Japan Open title on Tuesday, his third trophy of an injury-hit year.
- Novak Djokovic, who claimed his 102nd career title at the China Open on Tuesday, backed Sinner's call to "think long term," noting that a knee injury "affects every single movement" and that returning involves doubting whether you are "completely healed."
- Alcaraz is scheduled to open his Shanghai Masters campaign on Saturday, October 10, 2026, while Sky Sports says it has approached the ATP for comment on the criticism.
Why it matters: The world's top-ranked player is sitting out the final stretch of 2026 with a knee injury after winning Wimbledon, and the world No 3 has gone on the record blaming the calendar, giving the ATP a rare public rebuke from its two biggest active stars heading into the Shanghai swing and 2027 planning.
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