What’s the proper offseason technique for a successful begin to a tennis season? Is it a collection of profitable exhibition matches, or a quiet grind behind the scenes? Because the tennis world gears up for the Australian Open, two tennis stars—Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—are taking wildly totally different approaches. Some tennis consultants have taken discover of this distinction in preparations.
Carlos Alcaraz had a spectacular season the place he clinched two main titles, which included the French Open and Wimbledon. Nevertheless, he isn’t able to put down his racquet for the season but. The Spanish tennis participant performed in two big American exhibition matches final week. The 21-year-old performed the primary match in opposition to Ben Shelton at Madison Sq. Backyard whereas in the second he took on Frances Tiafoe in Charlotte.
Talking on the Rennae Stubbs Podcast, Caitlin Thompson, founding father of the tennis journal “Racquet,” estimated that he earned about as a lot as $2 million from simply Madison Sq. Backyard. So we are able to conclude that he in all probability earned an analogous quantity from his exhibition match at Charlotte Invitational, which mixed is far more than his Wimbledon prize cash, claimed tennis journalist, Jon Wertheim. To present you context, in 2024, the prize cash awarded to singles winners on the grass slam amounted to 2.9 million U.S. {dollars}.!
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In the meantime, his competitor, Jannik Sinner, appears to be taking it sluggish. The Italian participant had a dream run this season by securing the Australian Open and the US Open title. He was final seen in motion on 17 November on the ATP Finals in Turin, the place he was topped the victor. Since then Sinner has not performed anyplace and has been spending his low season quietly. He was noticed having fun with his downtime enjoying golf together with his father and on the Abu Dhabi F1 race. Looks as if he’s getting ready to defend his title quietly.
For this, the American former tennis participant John Isner made a pointed statement on how this might have some severe penalties for Alcaraz.
On Saturday, whereas making an look on the “Nothing Major” podcast alongside Nick Kyrgios. He stated, “Jannik Sinner is clearly getting exhibition affords within the off season. Haven’t seen him doing something like that. They’re going about their off season in a different way. None of us begrudged.”
“Carlos going on the market and accumulating two large cheques. However Sinner appears to be placing his head down after his implausible yr and simply going again to work. Maintaining type of a low profile and clearly each of them might be able to go in Australia. However I believe if Carlos doesn’t carry out that properly down the Australian Open, lots of people are going to leap on the truth that he was in america in December enjoying exhibitions versus preparing. I don’t suppose it’s truthful, however that’s the way it’s going to be.” Carlos Alcaraz has already began to receive backlash!
ATP Chief takes a dig at Carlos Alcaraz’s exhibition matches after schedule critique
The Spaniard has performed in 4 exhibition matches this yr. Other than the 2 exhibition matches this December, he additionally performed the Six Slam Kings in October in Saudi Arabia and one with Rafael Nadal for Netflix in March earlier this yr.
Carlos Alcaraz had beforehand complained concerning the packed ATP schedule after the Shanghai Masters. He claimed that the tight timetable was “killing” the gamers. In response, the ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi took a dig at Alcaraz’s many appearances at exhibition matches.
On ninth December he instructed French publication L’Equipe, “Gamers select to play many exhibitions exterior the circuit. We don’t see that in different sports activities…Cut back the season? Sure, however it’s going to then be vital to scale back the variety of ATP 250 tournaments. Afterwards, gamers may determine to do fewer exhibitions and spend extra time at dwelling to relaxation.”
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Critics, together with gamers like Andy Roddick, have beforehand expressed concern about squeezing in exhibitions so near a serious match. In his Served podcast, the American veteran stated, “He’s type of on the level the place he doesn’t need to disappoint anybody, and that’s a tricky state of affairs, it truly is, he’s going to must discover ways to schedule, learn how to say no, perhaps barely disappoint somebody, generally to maintain his sanity over time.”
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If Alcaraz stumbles in Melbourne, there’s little doubt the narrative will shift rapidly to his offseason adventures. Because the Australian Open inches nearer, the outcomes will converse for themselves. Till then, it’s price asking: which technique will show simpler within the 2025 season? Sinner’s or Alcaraz’s?