Last year, Carlos Alcaraz was among those players who bemoaned the hectic schedule, stating he is often not motivated to compete at tournaments. He even joked by saying that the calendar is going to “kill us in some way.” This season, Alcaraz has already won two titles in just four months, but he failed to deliver in the Sunshine Doubles. Has the hectic schedule played a role in his up-and-down run again? After clinching the Monte Carlo title, the Spaniard said he’s “proud” of how he coped with a “difficult month.” Scheduling definitely remains a concern, and Alcaraz has a suggestion for the organizers to make it a little easier for the players.

Carlos Alcaraz recently extended his winning streak to seven after his impressive 6-2,6-4 victory against the Serbian Laslo Djere in the R16 of the Barcelona Open. “I think as much as I can win in straight sets, it’s much better to save energy for the matches that I have coming forward,” he said after that match. How important is it to finish the matches early in the initial rounds to bring a better performance for the rest of the tournament?

Well, keeping the same intensity throughout two weeks, at times, seems to be the biggest challenge for the players. Last year, the two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas had also said that playing ATP Masters 1000 events over two weeks was a backward move. Now, Alcaraz has echoed that.

The Spaniard recently explained in an interview why he prefers one-week Masters 1000s to two-week ones. “One-week tournaments are better. Some people might think that two weeks involve rest days, but that’s not the case. You train, you have to mentally prepare for the match, prepare for it… You’re not really resting. It’s two full weeks. That’s why I prefer one-week Masters 1000 tournaments. For me, it’s better for tennis,” said the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Interesting Fact: Five of the ATP Tour’s nine Masters events- the highest-ranked men’s tournaments below the Grand Slams- are played over 12 days.

In order to manage his workload, Carlos Alcaraz took a day off before his match against Djere in the QF of the Barcelona Open. Reflecting on that break, he revealed that he forgot that the tournament was still going on and he was more busy shopping, watching soccer, and trying multiple things to turn off his mind from the hectic schedule. “It was very necessary. I didn’t think about tennis at all yesterday. I completely disconnected—didn’t come to the club, didn’t see the usual faces—and it helped me recharge for today. That break was much-needed,” he said.

In the same interview at the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz also addressed the importance of mental health following his compatriot, Sara Sorribes Tormo’s decision to step away from the sport for an indefinite time.

“It’s a shame” – Carlos Alcaraz reacts to Sara Sorribes Tormo’s bold decision

On Thursday, the 28-year-old Spaniard, Sara Sorribes Tormo, announced an indefinite break from tennis. “Hello everyone, I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to take some time. Some time for myself, for my mind, and for my body. I’ve been suffering for many months on a tennis court. The cheerful and happy Sara that you see off the court is far from the reality of everything I carry inside…I’ve lost the excitement to train, to improve, and even to go to tournaments,” the Paris Olympic bronze medalist wrote on Instagram.

Sharing his thoughts on Tormo’s decision, Alcaraz said, “Tennis is a very demanding sport, and it’s nonstop week after week. You don’t realize you need to stop until you’ve reached a point where a few days off aren’t enough, and you need much longer.” Further expressing his disappointment, he added, “It’s a shame to see someone as cheerful as Sara having to step away from tennis. I hope we’ll see her back soon, competing and fighting because she’s a warrior.” 

The Spaniard also highlighted his personal experience, noting how taking a short break after a disappointing first-round exit at the Miami Open helped him reset mentally.

After clinching the Monte Carlo Masters, Carlitos is now busy setting momentum in the other clay-court events before taking up his title-defending challenge at the French Open. He’ll be facing the number 7, Alex de Minaur, in the QF of the 2025 Barcelona Open later today. Are you backing Alcaraz to go all the way in Barcelona?