World No. 1 Alexander Zverev has proposed a straightforward solution to address Carlos Alcaraz's complaints about the demanding nature of the ATP Tour: shorten the season by two to three weeks.
Alcaraz has endured an injury-affected year and has hinted at playing a reduced schedule in the future. He has also criticized the ATP after Jannik Sinner's season was cut short by injuries.
Zverev's Proposal at the Vienna Open
Speaking at the Vienna Open, Zverev said: "I think the solution is relatively simple. I've said it several times: We should shorten the season by two or three weeks to give our bodies more time to rest and recover."
He highlighted the extended calendar, noting that playing the Davis Cup would mean competing until December, and the United Cup would require a first match at the end of December. Zverev said he will not play the United Cup because it is "simply impossible" for him.
Zverev's Heavy Schedule
Zverev has played more matches than anyone on the ATP Tour this year, with the 29-year-old set to break the 75-match barrier this week. With plans to compete at the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup, he could approach triple digits in matches played.
He will also play in the Six Kings Slam between December 27th and 30th, following the postponement of the Saudi Arabian tournament in October. This means Zverev will have only 27 days off before returning to court at the 2027 Brisbane International.
Alcaraz's Criticism
Alcaraz had previously remarked: "One of the reasons we had to see the players who are getting injured, they [ATP officials] are pushing us too much out of the line sometimes to play a lot of tournaments, to play a lot of matches. It's getting in the wrong direction. I just wish Jannik the best for these months, just to be in good shape for the next season."
