Tennis fans are once again calling for change to the packed tournament schedule after Australian Open champion Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from next week’s Rotterdam Open. The World No.1 was the headliner for the indoor tournament set to begin on February 9, after winning the hard-court event in 2025.
But the tournament announced on Monday night that Alcaraz has decided to withdraw due to his gruelling Australian Open campaign that saw him complete a career grand slam. The Rotterdam Open’s official account wrote on X: “Carlos Alcaraz won’t defend his title in Rotterdam. The Australian Open champion concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action. We wish Carlos a swift recovery.”
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Rotterdam Open after winning the Australian Open. Image: Getty
Rotterdam is an ATP 500 event, meaning Alcaraz will relinquish 500 rankings points by not playing and trying to defend his title. But the Spaniard can afford the loss of points as his Australian Open triumph took him to a whopping 13,650 at the top of the ATP rankings.
The World No.1 extended his lead from No.2 Jannik Sinner to 3350 points, after Sinner dropped 1200 to 10,300 because he failed to defend his Australian Open title. Sinner lost in the semi-finals to Novak Djokovic after winning the title in 2025.
Carlos Alcaraz completed a career grand slam by winning the Australian Open.
(Getty Images)
Alcaraz’s withdrawal from Rotterdam has raised fresh questions about the nature of the schedule, with many wondering why there isn’t more of a break after the Australian Open. Rotterdam commences just eight days after the Australian Open men’s final, before tournaments in Doha and Rio on February 16.
Dubai and Acapulco (all ATP 500 events) then kick off on February 23. Alcaraz will likely opt to play Doha as it gives him more rest after the Australian Open, but he was never very likely to play both Rotterdam and Doha.
Tennis fans once again call for change
One fan wrote online: “Rotterdam is so unlucky to be always be so close to AO in the schedule. I was so looking forward to see Carlos in indoor action again. If only there was 2 weeks in between…”
Another person wrote: “Such a shame that the tennis calendar is so tightly packed.” While a third added: “Tennis schedule is punishing.”
There have been calls for the last couple of years for the ATP and WTA tours to revise how many tournaments are played throughout the year, with players often bemoaning the gruelling and relentless grind. Despite Alcaraz’s withdrawal, Rotterdam will still have top players like Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime in action.