"You don't have to play": Jannik Sinner hits back at Carlos Alcaraz scheduling complaints

Jannik Sinner has hit back at the complaints of Carlos Alcaraz who said that the expanding tennis calendar is going to 'kill' players. The simple message from the World No.1 is you don't have to play.

This comes after a tad bit of hypocrisy in the comments of Alcaraz given that he has signed up to play a lot of non mandatory events including the Laver Cup last week. He will also join up with Sinner in Beijing to play the China Open.

He discovered his draw fate today alongside the World No.1. But had some stern words last week at the Laver Cup surrounding the current state of tennis as he hit out. Something that WTA players have often done but not ATP with Alcaraz and Sinner set to play until at least late November. Both are signed up to play Davis Cup after Paris and Turin.

"Probably they are going to kill us in some way," Alcaraz said at the Laver Cup. “Right now there are a lot of injuries. Right now a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of that."

Read also

Draw ATP China Open 2024: Sinner makes return against Jarry, leads field alongside Alcaraz

“Yes, these years it is quite long, but you have to choose. Of course there are mandatory tournaments, but a player can still choose,” the US Open champion said.

“You don't have to play: if you want you play, if you don't want you don't play. For example, both this year and last year I skipped some tournaments because I wanted to train, there are choices behind it. Then of course the season is long and it's not easy.

“I always try to improve on and off the field and understand myself, trying to understand what works and what doesn't work. There is still room for improvement and that for me is the most stimulating part.”

Read also

Prize Money ATP 2024 China Open with $3,720,165 on offer