Carlos Alcaraz has voiced concerns over the intense tennis calendar, announcing plans to skip tournaments after returning from a four-month injury layoff. The Spaniard, who successfully defended his US Open title, emphasized that the current schedule makes it increasingly difficult for players to compete without risking burnout.

In his remarks, Alcaraz highlighted the absence of prominent players, such as World No 1 Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper, as evidence of the demanding schedule's toll on athletes. He stated:

"I took more (time off) than I wanted, to be honest... it's impossible to play them all."

Alcaraz plans to take more breaks in the future, indicating:

• He might skip tournaments for one to two months
• He believes the ATP is adding too many important events
• The rigorous calendar leads to injuries and fatigue among players

He remarked on the necessity for change, warning that without adjustments, injuries will continue to escalate.

Jamie Murray, speaking on the issue, echoed Alcaraz's sentiments, stating:

"The Tour is longer than it's ever been... if they want to play until they're 34, 35, 36, they will probably have to skip tournaments."

Alcaraz is set to face Chinese world No 113 Wu Yibing in the third round on Friday, continuing his campaign at the US Open.