World primary Carlos Alcaraz says gamers are misunderstood once they need to play in exhibition tournaments alongside the demanding tennis calendar.
Alcaraz, 22, was amongst these crucial of the workload in Asia, the place some gamers struggled bodily, with the Spaniard saying he would take into account skipping necessary occasions to prioritise his well being.
He’s prime seed at this week’s profitable Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, a six-man event from 15 to 18 October that additionally consists of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
There’s a reported $4.5m (£3.4m) in prize cash on provide on the exhibition, with some gamers additionally prone to have been paid seven-figure sums to seem.
Stories say the winner might take dwelling as much as $6m (£4.5m).
However Alcaraz feels that shorter-format occasions such because the Six Kings Slam are much less gruelling than tour competitions, and subsequently make fewer calls for on the gamers.
He mentioned: “A variety of gamers are speaking concerning the calendar, how tight it’s with loads of tournaments, tournaments of two weeks, after which making excuses with exhibitions.
“It is a totally different format, totally different scenario taking part in exhibitions than the official tournaments, 15, 16 days in row, having such a excessive focus and demanding bodily.
“We’re simply having enjoyable for one or two days and taking part in some tennis, and that is nice, and why we select the exhibitions.
“I perceive [the criticism], however typically folks do not perceive us, our opinions. It is probably not demanding mentally [compared with] once we’re having such lengthy occasions like two weeks or two and a half weeks.”
Alcaraz gained his eighth title of the season in Tokyo final month regardless of an ankle damage sustained in his opening match that prompted him to tug out of the Shanghai Masters.
He’ll play in Saudi Arabia regardless of the damage not being absolutely healed. “Every thing’s OK,” mentioned Alcaraz. “I have been recovering the ankle as a lot as I can.
“I do not really feel 100% – the doubts are there once I’m shifting on court docket, nevertheless it improved so much and I’ll compete and carry out effectively within the Six Kings Slam.”
Alcaraz has a bye to the semi-finals of the occasion, which might be broadcast on Netflix, the place he’ll face Fritz on Thursday after the American gained a 6-3 6-4 victory over Zverev.
In Wednesday’s different quarter-final, world quantity two Sinner beat Tsitsipas 6-2 6-3 and can face Djokovic within the semi-finals.
