Emma Raducanu’s ex-coach reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s brutal criticism of ATP calendar

Mark Petchey, who previously coached Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray, acknowledges Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev’s criticisms of the ATP calendar but believes such discussions should occur privately. He suggests that airing these grievances publicly may not present the sport in the best light.

At the recent Laver Cup in Berlin, two of the world’s top three players made strong remarks about the tournament schedule. The Spanish player stated that “they are going to kill us in some way,” while the German criticized the ATP as being “a money business” that neglects player welfare.

Throughout the season, elite players are required to participate in a specific number of tournaments unless they have valid reasons, like injuries, to skip events. Consequently, most players lack the flexibility to choose their participation levels, arguing that this affects the overall quality of the sport. Even if they had the option to select their tournaments, the lengthy 11-month season remains a concern that many believe should be addressed.

This criticism isn’t new, as similar concerns have been raised repeatedly. Petchey shared his thoughts on X regarding the *Break Point* tennis documentary, which was canceled by Netflix after just two seasons due to a lack of viewer engagement.

He noted, “Mandatory events after the US Open for men include: 1 ATP 500, Shanghai, Paris, and Turin (if qualified). Winning all four while remaining undefeated at the Tour Finals could earn around $8 million in just two months.”

Petchey pointed out that one reason *Break Point* struggled was the excessive focus on complaints about the challenges of tour life. He argued that ordinary people see the workdays and potential earnings and feel disenchanted by the narrative of hardship. While he acknowledged that life on tour is tough and improvements to the schedule are needed, he emphasized that discussions on how to enhance it should take place privately.

Mandatory events after US Open mens side

1 ATP 500
Shanghai
Paris
Turin (if qualified)

If you win all 4 including being undefeated at Tour Finals you win around $8 million US Dollars in 2 months.

One of the reason Break Point didn’t work was there was too much moaning about…

— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) September 24, 2024

Petchey has a solution.

From late May to late August, three Grand Slam tournaments are held on different surfaces, and many players have expressed feeling mentally and physically exhausted during this demanding period.

The British coach believes this is a valid concern and recommends that the ATP consider implementing a mid-season break, allowing players at least two months of offseason rest.

“It’s clear to everyone that a mid-season break is needed. There should be nothing scheduled after Wimbledon until two weeks before the US Open. This would give both fans and players a chance to recharge. The season runs until the end of October or the first week of November, so players deserve a complete break before restarting in Australia,” Petchey stated.

Extending the 1000s was a mistake because it removes rest periods for players. So they should remove another one or two mandatory partecipations. That said. The problem is the less than a month off-season at the end of the year. Should be around 40 days.

— Alessandro Fanelli (@redmanhsl) September 24, 2024

What Alcaraz and Zverev exactly said.

Expressing his thoughts on the issue, the 21-year-old Spaniard mentioned that this isn’t the first time he’s felt overwhelmed by the tournament calendar.

“Honestly, they are going to wear us down in some way. Many talented players will miss numerous tournaments because of this. There are times when I really don’t want to participate in a tournament. I won’t lie—I’ve felt this way several times already. Sometimes, my motivation is completely lacking. However, as I’ve said repeatedly, I play my best tennis when I’m smiling and enjoying myself on the court. That’s the key to keeping myself motivated,” the four-time Grand Slam champion explained.

After winning Wimbledon and finishing as the runner-up in the Paris Olympics, Alcaraz faced early exits at both the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, attributing his performance to fatigue.

“I took a short break after the Olympics, thinking it would be sufficient, but it probably wasn’t. I may have arrived here with less energy than I expected. I need to reflect on this and learn from it,” he shared at the Laver Cup.

Meanwhile, his German counterpart was straightforward and highly critical of the tournament schedule.

“The ATP disregards our opinions—it’s all about money. This is the longest season in sports, and it’s unnecessarily extended. We have too many tournaments,” Zverev stated.