Carlos Alcaraz reveals five-set Grand Slam stance and offers alternative idea to ease player workload

Carlos Alcaraz insists Grand Slam matches should remain best-of-five sets for men’s singles – but stated there should be fewer tournaments amid tennis’ congested calendar and player burnout concerns.

World No. 3 Alcaraz, who had just returned from a four-month lay-off due to a wrist injury, has previously said he will cut down his future schedule to avoid injury exhaustion, with players such as Aryna Sabalenka and Jack Draper joining the Spaniard in criticising the sport’s 11-month schedule.

One idea proposed, at least on the men’s singles side, is to cut best-of-five set matches at Grand Slams to best-of-three, with Novak Djokovic supportive of such a proposal. However, seven-time major winner Alcaraz insists best-of-five must remain in the sport’s four major tournaments.

“The beauty of the Grand Slams is playing best-of-five sets… if we take that away and play best-of-three sets, we’re killing the legacy of the Grand Slams and ⁠killing the Grand Slams,” he said ahead of playing in this week’s Japan Open in Tokyo.

“We’ve been playing best-of-five sets in the Grand Slams since the very beginning and I think that’s what makes those tournaments different and special.

“I wouldn’t touch anything from that and for me, it’s okay to play best-of-five.”

However, Alcaraz insists the sport must trim its congested calendar, with players in action from the Australian summer in January all the way through to the Davis Cup Finals at the end of November.

“I’ve always said that ⁠it has to change,” Alcaraz added, referring to the calendar. The recent increase in the majority of Masters 1000 events from one week to 12 days has been particularly lambasted by the majority of players.

“Playing a little bit less and not having that amount of tournaments in a row, week after week. So I definitely would change that.”

Alcaraz is the top seed in Tokyo this week and faces American player Alex Michelsen in the first round.