Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have vocalised their concerns about the hectic tennis calendar recently.

Earlier this week, Swiatek said the WTA schedule is ‘crazy’ and that players are playing too much.

After winning the Japan Open, Alcaraz agreed with Swiatek, telling the powers that be they must do something about the schedule, claiming there are too many mandatory tournaments.

Carlos Alcaraz speaking at a 2025 Japan Open press conferencePhoto by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

They aren’t the only players to have weighed in on the debate, as other big names on the ATP Tour and WTA Tour have shared their thoughts over recent years.

Providing a potential solution to the problem, former British star Liam Broady had this to say.

Liam Broady proposes rule change that gives players with 65-70 wins exemptions from mandatory events

Speaking on Sky Sports, Broady explained why the tennis schedule affects some players more than others.

“This is what is so difficult about the Tour, right? Because 95% out of the top 100 might not be okay with the length of the season, but they will play a relatively good amount of matches throughout the year, they won’t get too fatigued,” he said.

“They will deal with the two-week events because often they are not making the second week of it anyway.

“But for your [Jannik] Sinners and [Iga] Swiateks and [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Aryna] Sabalenka, these guys are playing 18 or 19 tournaments a year but still clearing 80 plus matches, which is where it starts to get difficult.

Liam Broady speaks to the media ahead of the 2023 Davis Cup FinalsPhoto by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF

“It’s a difficult answer. I don’t know if they could make a rule almost for the top players, where if you play over a certain amount of matches in a year, then you can exempt yourself from a Paris Masters.

“Once they reach 65 or 70 wins in a year, maybe they can have special dispensation.”

Players are required to compete in a certain number of mandatory events per season.

Tour Masters/WTA 1000 ATP/WTA 500 ATP Tour 8 4 WTA Tour 10 6

Mandatory requirements 2025

Failure to do so causes players to lose ranking points, a punishment most try to avoid.

Broady believes players who win 65+ matches a season should receive an exemption from some of these mandatory events, but who would qualify for such an exemption in 2025?

Top players’ win count in 2025

  • 1. Carlos Alcaraz – 67
  • 2. Iga Swiatek – 59
  • 3. Aryna Sabalenka – 56
  • 4. Jannik Sinner – 42

Only Alcaraz would currently qualify, although Swiatek and Sabalenka aren’t too far behind.

Sinner trails by some distance, although that can be easily explained by his three-month absence earlier this year.

Following his win in Tokyo, Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters with an injury, although Broady isn’t convinced he would have skipped certain other tournaments with the same problem.

“I’m sure he has niggles, but I’m also sure if it was the US Open next week, he would be playing it,” he said.

“But if we want to see the best of Carlos Alcaraz and he goes to Shanghai and he picks up a serious injury, we know he niggled his ankle in Tokyo. If he gets seriously injured and he’s out for nine months, then all of a sudden, the sport has lost a star.

Carlos Alcaraz reacts after injuring his ankle at the 2025 Japan OpenPhoto by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

“So there has to be a bit of give and take from the Tour in a sense, especially with our biggest assets.”

Broady did, however, take the time to call out those who continue to make hypocritical moves regarding scheduling.

Players who complain about the schedule shouldn’t play exhibitions – Liam Broady

The 31-year-old shared his frustration over players who complain about the schedule while accepting big fees to compete in exhibitions.

“The one I don’t like is when these players, or certain players, I won’t name them by name, but it’s easy to find out, will be upset about the schedule and be very open or vocal about it, and then proceed to play three or four exhibitions in a year,” said Broady.

“That dilutes the argument a bit for me. If the schedule is that bad, then I don’t think you would be playing the exhibitions.”

Sinner and Alcaraz are both set to play in the big-money Six Kings Slam exhibition later this month, while Alcaraz has already agreed to contest several exhibitions in December.

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Perhaps Alcaraz should reconsider some of his exhibition appearances before making any more comments about the ATP schedule.

The Spanish star will return to the court at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia, which begins on Wednesday, October 15.