John McEnroe has voiced strong support for Carlos Alcaraz’s criticisms of the demanding tennis schedule. The Spanish player has expressed his frustration with the calendar after spending nearly five months sidelined due to a wrist injury. Alcaraz has indicated he may take breaks from competition in order to prioritize his health, even if it results in penalties for missing mandatory events. Similarly, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been out since July due to a knee injury.
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McEnroe stated, "We've been talking about this forever. They do need to do something because the game has become faster and more physical, and the technology, the ball's being hit harder than ever." He emphasized that the number of tournaments players should compete in has been a long-standing debate, noting that preferences vary among individuals. He believes players should have the autonomy to make decisions about their schedules without facing penalties.
Alcaraz and Sinner's issues highlight ongoing concerns in the sport, and McEnroe pointed out that he would heed Alcaraz's warnings closely. He reminisced about his own career, recalling how he and rival Bjorn Borg were constrained by rigid schedules. Borg faced ranking penalties due to insufficient tournaments played, impacting his career trajectory.
"In my day in September, around the US Open, we had to decide our entire schedule for the entire next year. How the hell am I going to know what I feel like next October in early September of the year before?" McEnroe said. He argued that greater flexibility could have altered Borg's early retirement at 25.
In addition to scheduling issues, McEnroe expressed concern over players' financial stakes in the Grand Slams, suggesting they should share in the revenue generated by these events. He noted that a group of top players, including Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, limited their media obligations at Wimbledon and the French Open to push for higher revenue shares and better welfare contributions.
While prize money at Wimbledon and the US Open increased this year, McEnroe believes more action is necessary. He suggested a boycott of one or two Grand Slam events as a means for players to assert their demands: "But the only way to succeed in doing that, in my opinion, you're gonna have to boycott one or two of these." McEnroe's comments reflect a broader call for changes in professional tennis to better support its athletes.