For players like Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz, the relentless calendar of tournaments in the last couple of seasons has become more than a talking point. Last year, after clinching the title at the China Open, Alcaraz said the schedule is “killing” the players. He highlighted how demanding it has become for the players to travel from tournament to tournament with just one or two days. Before his appearance at the ATP 500 event in Washington, Fritz labelled the tennis schedule “insane.” Now, yet another American joins that list!

During a conversation on ‘The Changeover Podcast,’ another American star, Marcos Giron, was asked to share his thoughts about the current ATP schedule. The questions focused on whether the schedule really affected his quality of life on Tour and being away from home. Currently ranked 48th, Giron has played around 41 matches this season.

According to him, “Well, quality of life back home…I mean, it’s the Tour, the schedule is nuts. I mean, from January to November, it’s full. It’s tough, man. It’s brutal like this and it’s insane the amount of traveling you have to do… Everyone who probably listens to this, you guys, everyone who plays knows.” He said that it’s pretty “cool” to have the best players facing each other in the tournament. Just ask Alcaraz and Fritz, who played more than a normal amount of games this season. 

Fritz commented that players have long advocated for a shorter season. However, he believes that instead of addressing this issue, more events are being added, resulting in longer tournaments and an extended season. If we dig deeper into the numbers, Fritz has already played 62 matches this season, while for Alcaraz, the number is even bigger (70). Giron’s pointers came in rapidly regarding the schedule, as evidenced by the schedule of tennis stars. 

He added, “The time on the road is brutal… Also, the two-week events are just too long. Like, even if you win a match, you have a day off, it’s not real recovery. You’re just kind of okay; it’s you want to compartmentalize, you want to separate, but it’s like, okay, well, who do I got next… So it’s kind of like a weird, like a lot of time, a lot of time on the road where it kind of feels like there is empty space where you’re just like, okay, I’d rather just be battling every day or go home… That’s kind of relentless… I don’t know; it’s tough, it’s not easy.” But it’s not just the ATP stars who have raised their voice on these scheduling conflicts.

The world number 2, Iga Swiatek, has already played more than 70 matches this season, and as per her recent statements from Beijing, “I think we play too much, and the schedule is crazy.” She said that looking at the schedule for next year was “overwhelming” in a complaint about the number of games the top players must feature in. 

For fans, these remarks offered a rare glimpse behind the curtain of professional tennis. They reminded us how the glamor of all these mega tennis events and epic rallies often hides the physical and mental strain players endure week after week. As the 2025 season marches on, the conversation around scheduling is likely to intensify. But in a sport defined by stamina and skill, their voices remind us that even champions have limits.

Yet, despite their grueling schedules, Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz continue to shine on court, thrilling audiences with their high-octane tennis. 

Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz keep their winning runs intact at the Japan Open

The world number 5, Taylor Fritz, recently took down his compatriot, Sebastian Korda, by 6-3,6(5)-7,6-3 in the QF of the 2025 Japan Open. Fritz had won this title in 2022, and at that time, he defeated Frances Tiafoe in yet another hard-fought battle. Yet still, there is a lot of work left for the American to get to Alcaraz and Sinner’s levels. 

On the other side, Carlos Alcaraz recently secured his 64th win of the 2025 season. He defeated America’s Brandon Nakashima in the QF of the same tournament by 6-2,6-4 and as a result of this win, he’ll now face Casper Ruud in the semis. Since 1990, Alcaraz is now just the fourth player to reach 9+ consecutive SFs at the ATP-level events entered (excluding team events). What did he say after this remarkable victory, though?

“It’s great to go through, to play another semi-final. It’s special because it’s the first time I am playing here in Japan and here in Tokyo, so to reach the semi-finals in my first appearance is something great,” said the Spaniard. Carlos Alcaraz has a 4-1 record against the Norwegian. Do you think he can extend his winning streak by securing a victory against Ruud in the semis?