Through his social media, Australian tennis player John Millman responded to Carlos Alcaraz regarding the ATP schedule-issue, stating that it is difficult to convince the federation to reduce tournaments if then in the first week of rest some tennis players (the Australian did not name names) go to exhibitions.
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"Theres always been calls to have a smaller tournament schedule but its a hard sell when in off weeks players chase $$ exhibitions. Then you factor in those playing on future and challenger tours, who might need those off weeks to play and make the little money they can," he wrote.
Below Millmans comments, Taylor Fritz also expressed himself, defending Alcarazs ideas (even without mentioning names).
"I agree that its tough for the tour to shorten the schedule when players will just play Exos to fill the time, and I've seen a lot of people criticizing some of the players asking for a shorter season because they go and play Exos. I don't understand that part of the argument, because playing an exo vs a tour event aren't comparable to each other in terms of burn out, physically and especially mentally.
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A Tour event can be five or more days of playing all out and mentally being dialed into on all things on and off court, versus an ex or you show up, have some fun and entertain for a match or two. You don't have to all out push your body and there is absolutely zero mental fatigue or stress. In a lot of ways an exo is a lot like a rest week and shouldn't be compared one to one with a tour event. what I mean by this," answered the American.
In the meantime, Alcaraz won his first match at the China Open in Beijing without any particular problems, in the challenge against the young and insidious Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard. Carlitos closed the match in two sets and will thus prepare for the next commitments.
At the same time, the issue regarding the calendar continues to dominate the Tour. The words of the young Spaniard about the too busy calendar have generated noise and everyone is having their say; Jannik Sinner for example responded that a tennis player can decide not to go to a tournament and everyone has their own position. Now, in fact, Millman's post arrived first and then Fritz's response.
