Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and other prominent tennis names who have repeatedly criticized the tennis calendar were recently called out, albeit indirectly, by Marcos Baghdatis, the former Greek Cypriot ATP star who reached his career peak of world number 8 during his playing career. Although Baghdatis partly agrees with the calendar’s critics, he exposed his frustrations with their frequent complaints.
The 2006 Australian Open runner-up believes the concerns of Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and others about physical injuries and mental and emotional exhaustion are legitimate given tennis’ annual schedule, which is widely considered one of the most demanding in all professional sports. Talk to Tennis365the four-time career singles titles list said:
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“Look, yeah, I definitely think (the schedule) is a problem. I think it’s been a problem for a while.”
Later in the interview, Marcos Baghdatis looked back on his own playing years and remembered how much a primarily player-centric association like the PTPA led by Novak Djokovic was missing in tennis at the time.
“You know, nowadays we didn’t have this association, so we could have complained as much as we wanted – no one heard us,” said the Greek Cypriot.
Urging reigning world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, WTA No. 2 Iga Swiatek and other critics of the tennis calendar to work with the PTPA and do everything in their power to make necessary changes to the calendar, the 40-year-old added:
“But at the moment, they have it. And for me, that’s where I don’t understand the players. They have an association that was created by some players, like Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil, and they have everything they need to be able to go and negotiate with the tours and the tournaments. But they don’t do that, they only complain through the media and interviews and all that. That’s where I find it a little strange.”
“It’s in your hands” – Marcos Baghdatis indirectly urges Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and others to use their positions of power and influence in tennis to improve the calendar
Baghdatis concluded his detailed approach to the subject by telling players like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and others who have repeatedly questioned the tennis calendar to take matters into their own hands. According to the Greek Cypriot, tours and Majors will not change much to the existing schedule.
“For me, yes, that’s where, whenever a player complains, I say to him: ok, you guys can change things. I mean, it’s in your hands. It’s not in the hands of the tours or the tournaments, it’s in your hands. So why don’t you do it?,” the 40-year-old said.
When it comes to men’s tennis in particular, things are likely to become even more demanding in the years to come. Most likely, from 2028, a new annual Masters 1000 event will begin in Saudi Arabia, also at the start of the tennis season.
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