Jimmy Connors questions Carlos Alcaraz’s exhibition matches participation amid hectic ATP calendar, complain

American Tennis legend Jimmy Connors has questioned Carlos Alcaraz for playing the exhibition matches. Alcaraz has been vocal regarding the hectic ATP calendar, which keeps the players on their toes.

Connors said money plays a key role in big players’ participation in the exhibition matches but at the same time, he fails to understand how playing in these matches doesn’t impact their hectic schedule.

“Going into the new year, let’s see how many exhibitions Carlos Alcaraz plays in the next month. Well, I mean, the whole thing is….it’s the money-making season,” Brett Connors, Jimmy Connors’ son, said on his father’s podcast.

“Yeah, it’s the money-making season, like you haven’t made enough anyway. It’s going to be interesting to see. Do they force it and play more exhibitions and go into the Australian tired?” Jimmy Connors added.

However, last week, Alcaraz said playing a one-off exhibition is different from playing a tournament, which lasts for a week or 10 days. The Spaniard said not much preparation is needed before playing an exhibition but one has to be 100% ready, physically and mentally, before a big tournament.

“First of all, it’s normal that people think that way and they don’t understand why we’re complaining about the calendar and then we set up the exhibition matches,” Alcaraz told The Associated Press in an interview last week.

“But for me, the main difference is that, at a tournament, you’ve got to keep your focus and it’s really physically and mentally demanding for one week and a half. And an exhibition is just one day. You just stay focused, just warm up, just practice not that much — for one match,” he added.

Speaking on his approach for the exhibition matches, Alcaraz said he tries to have fun on the court, which helps him bring out his best tennis.

“You could approach the exhibitions in different ways. You can [do it] just to have fun, playing good tennis, good shots and having fun. Or you can approach them playing really serious and [use] tactics and trying different things you will want to do later, in an event,” he said.

“So for these matches, I’m going to play well, I’m going to take it really seriously, but at the same time, I’m going to try to have as much fun as I can. To me, that’s what matters. When I’m having fun on court, I can show my best tennis.”