Well beyond their battles on the court, the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is heating up. As the tennis world focuses on their potential showdown at the China Open, there’s more to the story than just their fierce competition. Amid the buzz surrounding their participation, Sinner offered some candid advice to Alcaraz, addressing the ongoing scheduling controversy that’s been stirring the tennis community.

A few days earlier, Alcaraz vented annoyance at the demanding tennis schedule, saying it was “going to kill us.” Many resonated with Alcaraz’s fears of burnout, as he is one of the most active players on the circuit. In the midst of the scheduling dispute, though, his up-and-coming opponent, Jannik Sinner, offered some clear advice.

Sinner said, “Alcaraz said that the calendar is too heavy? True, in recent years it has been very long, but you have to make choices. There are mandatory tournaments, of course, but every player can still choose where and when to play. You don’t have to play.” 

Further, he added, “For example, in the last two years, I have missed some appointments because I wanted to train. I always try to improve on and off the court and understand myself, understand what works and what doesn’t work in my game. I know I still have room for improvement, and this, for me, is the most stimulating part.” 

With victories at the French Open and Wimbledon this year, the 21-year-old has the world under his feet. The Spanish player already played 50 singles matches in 2024 and was lastly competing in the Laver Cup, his 14th tournament of the season. Superhuman effort!

Alcaraz’s full statement was: “Somehow they will kill us. 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.”

However, Alexander Zverev shared a similar thought to Alcaraz’s over the troubling scheduling controversy.

Alexander Zverev’s passionate rant about long schedules echoes Jannik Sinner’s advice!

At the Laver Cup press conference following his defeat by Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev was visibly frustrated. He criticized the tennis calendar, labeling it “the longest season in sports” and “unnecessarily long” in response to questions about it. Rising players are under pressure because they cannot afford to take pauses as Novak Djokovic does, the German highlighted.

Zverev continued, “There’s no real off-season or rest for us.” When questioned about possible fixes for the tennis schedule, Alexander Zverev became combative, interrupting the reporter and implying that elite players might be talking about adjustments in private. He said, “The ATP doesn’t care about our opinion—it’s a money business.” 

Both Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz face demanding schedules, extending until late November with the Davis Cup Finals in Spain. However, Sinner’s solution for tennis players must be noted.