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Carlos Alcaraz has secured eight tournament victories this season.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz argues that tennis players are often misunderstood when they opt to participate in exhibition tournaments alongside the demanding professional circuit.
Alcaraz, 22, previously voiced concerns about the intense workload, particularly during the Asian swing, where several players experienced physical challenges. He suggested he might consider skipping mandatory events to prioritize his health.
This week, he is the top seed at the prestigious Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, an exclusive six-player tournament scheduled from October 15th to 18th, featuring Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The exhibition event reportedly offers a total prize pool of $4.5 million (£3.4 million), with substantial appearance fees likely paid to the participating players.
Reports indicate that the champion could potentially earn up to $6 million (£4.5 million).
Alcaraz contends that the condensed format of events like the Six Kings Slam is less physically taxing than standard tour competitions, thereby reducing the strain on players.
He stated: “Many players discuss the calendar, its intensity with numerous tournaments, some spanning two weeks, and then face criticism for participating in exhibitions.”
“Exhibitions offer a different format and situation compared to official tournaments, which involve 15 or 16 consecutive days of high focus and physical exertion.”
“We engage in these events for fun over one or two days, enjoying the game, which is why we choose exhibitions.”
“While I understand the criticism, people sometimes misunderstand our perspectives. Exhibitions are less mentally demanding than prolonged events lasting two or two-and-a-half weeks.”
Despite an ankle injury sustained during his opening match at the Tokyo Open last month, which led to his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters, Alcaraz secured his eighth title of the season.
He is participating in the Saudi Arabia event despite the injury not being fully recovered. “Everything’s OK,” Alcaraz affirmed. “I’ve been focusing on ankle recovery as much as possible.”
“While I don’t feel 100% and still have some doubts when moving on the court, it has improved significantly, and I’m committed to competing and performing well at the Six Kings Slam.”
Alcaraz received a bye to the semi-finals, which will be broadcast on Netflix, and will face Fritz on Thursday after the American’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zverev.
In Wednesday’s other quarter-final, world number two Sinner defeated Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3 and will now face Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz during a practice session in Saudi Arabia
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