“I don’t want to waste my time”: Carlos Alcaraz hits out at shot clock enforcement at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz spoke about shot clock enforcement on the ATP Tour after opening his Indian Wells campaign with a straight-sets victory over Grigor Dimitrov, pointing to differences in how the rule is applied by various umpires. The Spaniard indicated that while he has expressed his views previously, he does not intend to pursue further discussions with tour officials.

Alcaraz has previously raised concerns about the shot clock, particularly in matches played under challenging conditions or following long rallies. Asked whether he had recently spoken with ATP officials about the issue, the Spaniard indicated that he has little intention of pursuing further discussions, suggesting the outcome would likely be the same.

His comments came shortly after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Dimitrov in the second round in Indian Wells, a result that extended Alcaraz’s winning streak to 13 matches following titles earlier this season at the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha.

However, the match itself quickly became secondary during the press conference as Alcaraz focused on the broader discussion surrounding rules and officiating. The Spaniard suggested he prefers to concentrate on competition rather than repeatedly debating the same topic with tour authorities.

When asked whether he had spoken directly with the ATP regarding the shot clock issue, Alcaraz revealed that no such conversation had taken place. The Spaniard suggested the tour already knows his position and that continuing to push the matter would likely prove unproductive. “Well, to be honest, I haven't spoke to them. To be honest, nobody came to me to ask me what is my opinion about it. So it's like, yeah, it's gonna be like that, I would say.”

Alcaraz added that past experiences have shaped his current attitude toward raising concerns through official channels. In his view, players often express opinions about rules only to see little change implemented afterward.

“I don't want to waste my time, to be honest, because that's have been in other situations that you go to complain or to give your opinion and then nothing change at all, so I don't want to waste my time.”

Instead, the Spaniard said he prefers to focus on his performances on court. With his Indian Wells campaign underway and momentum building early in the season, Alcaraz emphasised that his attention remains on competing rather than engaging in administrative debates. “They already know my opinion, what's it been like for me. So let's see if they're gonna change it or not, but I just really want to be focused on other things.”

Alcaraz also suggested that one of the main frustrations for players lies in how the rule is applied differently depending on the official overseeing the match. According to the Spaniard, some umpires interpret the rule with greater flexibility while others apply it more rigidly.

He noted that the issue often involves only a small number of officials but can still have a noticeable impact across multiple matches on tour. “Yeah, I think so. We could see there are different umpires. So it's just about with one or two probably, the same guys that just have been problem with a lot of matches.”

The Spaniard went further in describing the difference between strict and more flexible enforcement of the rule, arguing that a deeper understanding of tennis can influence how umpires manage the pace of play. “But there are other umpires that they are flexible about it. I would say if they understand about tennis, they know how to do it.”

He also suggested that overly rigid interpretations of the shot clock may reflect a lack of appreciation for the natural rhythm of points during matches. “The guys who are really strict and not having that left hand, let's say, is because they don't understand tennis at all.”

While the shot clock discussion dominated the press conference, Alcaraz also spoke about aspects of his game and the atmosphere surrounding the tournament. Among the topics raised was his use of the body serve, a tactic that has become a recurring part of his strategy.

Rather than focusing solely on winning points outright with the serve, Alcaraz explained that he often views the serve as a way to set up the next shot in the rally. “I would say other players are just talk about winning the point with the serve, and I sometimes trying to play a good serve but not for winning the point with that ball. It's just thinking about the second ball.”

“So I think the body serve is something like is really useful, and for me I have been doing it for a long time already, and it's been a really good weapon and it work out.”

The Spaniard was also asked about NBA star Jimmy Butler, who attended the match while continuing his rehabilitation from injury. Alcaraz said he appreciated the effort Butler made to watch him compete in Indian Wells. “Yeah, yeah, he's my guy. I knew that he was coming. He told me, ‘I'm just doing my rehab really close, so I'm going to show up to watch you.’”

“So I’m really happy that everything he's been through with the rehab, with the knee, that he can show up and watch my match and have a little bit of time with him afterwards.”

As Alcaraz continues his campaign in Indian Wells, the Spaniard remains one of the tournament favourites. In the third round he will face Arthur Rinderknech, whom he has defeated in all five of their previous meetings — three of them since July 2025. The Frenchman has yet to play a match at the tournament, having received a first-round bye and then advancing to the second round after a walkover from Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.

Since making his tournament debut in 2021, the Spaniard has compiled a strong 20-3 record in the California desert, lifting the trophy in both 2023 and 2024.