"I don’t want to hear about it": Andy Roddick calls out Carlos Alcaraz’ complaints over the schedule following off-season exhibitions
ATP
Former
world No. 1 Andy Roddick weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz’s participation in
exhibitions after an exhausting season. The American stated he has no issue
with players using the off-season to compete in exhibition matches but insists
they shouldn’t later complain about the Tour schedule.
Over the
past two years, several players have criticised the demanding tournament
schedule and the two-week Masters 1000 events. Stars like Iga Swiatek,
Alexander Zverev, and Carlos Alcaraz have all voiced concerns about the heavy
workload.
I’m not going to tell you that’s wrong" - Andy Roddick
However,
Roddick, among others, pointed out the apparent contradiction when players use
their downtime to participate in exhibition matches. Alcaraz, for instance,
played the Netflix Slam in March, the Laver Cup in September, the Six Kings
Slam in October, and recently participated in two exhibition matches in the USA
against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, extending his playing time.
The 2003 US
Open champion expressed his opinion on the matter during his podcast, “Served
with Roddick”:
“I get the criticism of ‘don’t complain [about the tennis schedule] and then go
play exhibitions. I’m not going to tell you that’s wrong because I think it
too. An example that pops into my mind—and I don’t want to fire strays at this
guy because I love him.”
Roddick
also recalled the exhibition series Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal played in late
2022 during a tour of South America and compared it to Alcaraz’s situation.
“I think he’s phenomenal, I think he’s a responsible citizen, but like Casper
went and did that week in South America with Rafa and got off to a slow start.”
Read also
“Carlos,
let’s say it how it is. He finished [the season] on December 6. He had a
vacation in the Caribbean with some buddies for a week before he played these
exhibitions,” Roddick added. “He’d already done his relaxation, got in some
reps, and obviously got paid a lot of money.”
“What other
time would we tell somebody not to do their job for a massive paycheck? We’re
adults; it’s a business. What I don’t accept is, ‘Hey, I didn’t have a long
enough off-season.’ I don’t want to hear about it in Australia if he’s not
feeling great. That’s it. I don’t want to hear about it,” the former world No.
1 concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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