Is the tennis schedule too demanding?

This is not a new question, yet it has resurfaced in the tennis world after Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters due to "physical issues."

Alcaraz: 'The tennis calendar is too intense'

Last week, many matches at the China Open ended prematurely because players withdrew. On Monday alone, five players pulled out due to injuries. By Tuesday, Daniil Medvedev was barely able to move on court and had to retire while trailing 4-0 in the final set against Vietnamese-born player Learner Tien. Lorenzo Musetti, Tien’s quarterfinal opponent, also withdrew for similar reasons.

When asked about Swiatek and Gauff’s comments on the congested schedule, Alcaraz bluntly stated: "The schedule is truly too demanding. They need to do something to change it." Shortly after, he announced his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters to "rest and recover," without revealing when he would return to competition.

Some argue that the Shanghai Masters lasts too long, almost like a Grand Slam. However, critics counter that players like Alcaraz have declined rest opportunities to participate in lucrative exhibition matches such as the Six King Slam, a million-dollar exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.