“They are going to kill us in some way,” that’s how Carlos Alcaraz explained the frenetic setting of the ATP’s calendar. And he isn’t the only one to suggest it takes a toll on the players, The jam-packed tour has been a hot topic in tennis lately, with the likes of Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev taking a swipe at the overwhelming scheduling. And now the Russian Daniil Medvedev‘s coach has chimed in to offer his candid opinion and he has parked in Alcaraz’s camp.

After downing American Ben Shelton in R2 of the Laver Cup, Alcaraz criticized ATP’s calendar saying: “They are going to kill us in some way. At this stage, many good tennis players risk losing their tournaments due to injuries. Sometimes it happens that I don’t want to go and play a tournament: I mustn’t lie, I’ve felt that way a few times. I don’t feel motivated at all”. While his comments drew a bold response from rival Jannik Sinner – which notably didn’t please fans – Russian star Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara seems to be agreeing with Alcaraz.

During an interview with the ‘Tennis Channel’, Cervara subtly acknowledged Alcaraz’s remarks and iterated how he was “reading an article of a player who was saying that the calendar is too long, too many tournaments especially the Masters 1000 on two weeks now makes the year tougher than it was, and in a way that’s true. From my perspective, the Masters 1000 on two weeks makes the year longer so that’s not easy.”

Over time, with the addition of new events, top talents like Stefanos Tsitispas have also lamented the hectic year-long schedule while talking to the reporters at the Italian Open saying it “has a big toll on our bodies. It starts from the mental side, and it follows to the physical side. The extension of the days in the Masters 1000s I think plays a massive role and contributes a lot to the fact that these players are getting injured.”

For those unaware, players have been irked with the unsettling two-week format of certain events, notably mimicking the schedule adhered to in the Grand Slam events. The extensive setting of such tournaments lowkey slaps a physical restraint on competitors – forcing them out of future adventures due to exhaustion or injuries.

Moreover, Alcaraz touched down on the subject once again during a pre-tournament presser at the Paris Masters, outlining that “the calendar is super tight, super demanding.” However, those comments from Alcaraz weren’t the only ones to gain traction on social media. He recently revealed the motivating factor behind players participating in exhibition events despite a tight schedule.

Carlos Alcaraz reveals ‘lucrative prize money’ motivation behind jetting to Saudi Arabia

Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz said on Monday that the extravagant prize money pool served as a noteworthy motivation for him to perform in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, he served his candid take after Italian rival Jannik Sinner dismissed claims that he joined the lucrative event for financial gain after pocketing a cool $6M with his triumph at ‘The Kingdom’.

“I don’t play for money. It’s very simple. It’s a nice prize and everything but for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world,” Alcaraz said.

However, Alcaraz shared a different opinion. During a pre-tournament presser at the Paris Masters, the former World No. 1 noted “I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about the money. But you have to be realistic… in Arabia is the highest prize money ever in history, so that was a good motivation, at least for me.”

After finessing Saudi fans with four days’ worth of breathtaking showdowns, Alcaraz minted 1.5 million USD. Next up, the Spaniard will focus on gaining headway at the Paris Masters and, with it, hopefully conclude the season on a triumphant note at the ATP Finals in Turin.