Alcaraz responds to criticism about his preference for exhibition matches

The world’s top-ranked player, Carlos Alcaraz, has publicly justified his choice to compete in some exhibition events lately.

Carlos Alcaraz, the number one player globally, defended his stance on taking part in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia, a tournament with a massive prize pool, after previously stating he might skip some ATP events to prioritize his health due to a packed schedule.

The men’s and women’s tours now span 11 months each year, with many tournaments lasting longer than before, drawing criticism during the Asian swing where harsh weather conditions have caused numerous players to suffer injuries and withdraw.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) even filed a lawsuit against tennis governing bodies in March, describing the current calendar as “unsustainable.”

After winning the Tokyo title last month despite an ankle injury, Alcaraz withdrew from the following Shanghai tournament to recover. However, his participation in the Six Kings Slam, reportedly offering $1.5 million appearance fees plus $6 million for the winner, sparked heavy backlash from fans.

“This is a different format, a different situation – exhibition matches are not like official tournaments where you have to be fully focused for 15–16 days straight and expend a lot of energy,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion.

“Here, we just play for fun over 1–2 days, enjoying tennis and the experience, which is why I choose to participate in exhibitions.”

Jannik Sinner, last year’s champion, also took part in the Riyadh exhibition after withdrawing early from Shanghai due to cramps.

“I understand the criticism, but sometimes people don’t really understand us and our perspective,”Alcaraz added. “Exhibition tournaments don’t demand the same mental intensity as events that last two or two and a half weeks.”

Alcaraz – who received a direct entry to the semifinals and will face Taylor Fritz on Thursday evening – revealed his ankle has not fully healed yet.

“I’m not at 100% and still have some hesitation moving on the court. But the condition has improved a lot and I believe I will perform well at the Six Kings Slam,” he affirmed.