This is the theme of the moment. It has been significant for years, but has been particularly highlighted these days by players, notably major figures on the circuit: the schedule is (much) too busy, threatening over time the physical and even psychological integrity of the protagonists of the circuit. Carlos Alcaraz, in particular, engaged on the issue last week. But isn’t it a bit contradictory to denounce these infernal rates while adding exhibitions, some very remunerative but sometimes distant?
The criticism is recurring and this time, it was Taylor Fritz who stepped up to the plate, through a post on his social networks. “I agree that it is difficult for the tour to shorten the season when players are going to play exhibitions to pass the time, and I have seen a lot of people criticize certain players asking for a lighter schedule when they are going to play exhibitionists“, admits the American, before turning into a lawyer: “I don’t understand this argument, because playing an exhibition and playing an ATP tournament is incomparable, physically and even more mentally.”
Alcaraz or Sinner: who is the boss?
In many ways, an exhibition is like a week off
Taylor Fritz is not wrong and he even states the obvious. Participating in an exhibition over a few days is much less demanding on the head and body than playing in an official tournament. “A tournament on the circuit can be five days or more where you draw mentally on and off the court, whereas an exhibition, you show up, have a little fun and put on a show for a match or two. You don’t need to strain your body at all and there is absolutely 0 stress or mental fatigue“, details the finalist of the last US Open.
The Californian goes even a little further. For him, playing an exhibition is a way to regenerate and even rest. “In many ways, an exhibition is like a week off and it should not be compared to playing a week-long tournament on the circuit“, he says. According to him, you have to be playful to understand this: “I don’t expect people who aren’t gamers to be able to fully understand this because it’s hard to judge the mental and physical fatigue it takes if you’re not a gamer..”
That the requirement of an exhibition is less than that of an “official” tournament, you don’t need to have completed polytechnic or even to have been Top 10 in the ATP to measure it. Taylor Fritz still omits certain elements in the equation. Travel, for example. Jet lag. When some people go to play an exhibition in the offseason in South America or Mexico after playing for weeks in Europe, is it really completely neutral, at a time when the body and mind need to completely breathe? There remains the essential point, which deserves to be debated: yes, the calendar raises questions, even problems, and it will have to be tackled one day.
