‘They’re pushing us too much’ – Alcaraz partly attributes Sinner injury to relentless schedule
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Alcaraz was absent from April to August with a wrist injury, making his comeback with a run to the US Open quarter-finals before returning to winning ways with victory for Team Europe at the Laver Cup and this week’s Japan Open triumph.Sinner claimed the Wimbledon title in July but has not featured since due to an ongoing knee issue, and he announced earlier this week that his 2026 season was “officially over.”
That means there has been just one chapter in the iconic Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry this year, when the Italian won the Monte-Carlo final in April. By contrast, they met six times in 2025, including in three Grand Slam finals.
The Spaniard believes that tennis authorities need to consider the welfare of the players as more and more fall by the wayside amid intense schedule demands.
“One of the reasons we had to see the players who are getting injured, they [ATP officials] are pushing us too much out of the line sometimes to play a lot of tournaments, to play a lot of matches,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s getting in the wrong direction. I just wish Jannik the best for these months, just to be in good shape for the next season.
‘Ready to take on the challenge’ – Alcaraz ‘mentally fresh’ ahead of Shanghai Masters
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“Hopefully see him soon, but they have to see a little bit what’s going on on the tour along with the players.”
Alcaraz heads to Shanghai fresh from claiming his third tour-level title of the season in Tokyo.
But he enters a competitive field, with the likes of Roland-Garros and US Open champion Alexander Zverev and newly-crowned China Open winner Novak Djokovic in the draw.
“I’m feeling fresh mentally, which for me is the most important thing,” Alcaraz added.
“I’m ready to take the challenge of this tournament. If we see a couple of years back, probably this swing or this part of the season, it’s never been my best one.
“Right now, I just want to be in a good state for this tournament, because I really want to win the tournaments, this one and the tournaments that I have in a couple of months at least one day.
“So right now, I think it’s an extra boost that I have for the rest of the season.”
Sinner confirmed his season was over on Tuesday with a post on social media.
The Italian has not competed since the Wimbledon final in July and is at risk of losing the world No. 1 spot to Zverev or Alcaraz by the end of the year.
But he explained that he is prioritising his long-term health by not returning to defend his ATP Finals and Davis Cup crowns on home turf in Turin and Bologna.
‘I’m aware of how difficult it is’ – Djokovic warns Sinner about ‘mental’ toll of injury lay-off
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“Me, together with the doctors, have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee, which means that the 2026 season is officially over,” Sinner said.
“The last couple of years, especially the ending in Turin, gave me so many beautiful feelings and emotions. This year is going to be way different. But at the moment I also need to think about my long-term career.
“I will do everything possible to get back to 100%. I thank you already in advance for your support, and hope to see you very, very soon on the court.”
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