To deal with the growing discontent, McEnroe says he has heard “rumblings” that the Australian Open could be pushed back by a month to February. However, that could simply accommodate space in January for a big tournament, perhaps in the Middle East.
Brother and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said on TNT Sports: “If they moved the Australian to later, that would give more time, but they don’t want to give that up. The January slot. What do you think, in March?”
Patrick responded: “I’m hearing rumblings that it could move to February.”
John said that would be “helpful”, and Patrick continued: “Of course, there’d probably be another big tournament put in in early January, that’s part of potentially the plan. Middle East, hello?
“It’s pretty typical of all sports like in the NBA you see players taking nights off under contract. In tennis the difference is you don’t play you don’t get paid. No guaranteed contracts. Top players have big endorsement deals but even those normally have stipulations that the players have to play certain events or be ranked at a certain spot to collect the money.”
In conversations with Tennis Australia sources about McEnroe’s claims, Express Sport has learned that there was surprise over the rumour, and a categorical denial.
Alcaraz is the most high-profile star to strongly criticise the schedule. Speaking last September, the Spaniard said: “As I said many times, you know, the calendar is so tight, a lot of tournaments, no days off or not as much days off as I want.
“I’m the kind of player who think there is a lot of tournaments during the year, mandatory tournaments, and probably during the next few years gonna be even more tournaments, more mandatory tournaments. So, I mean, probably they are going to kill us in some way. Right now they are showing up a lot of injuries because of the ball, because of the calendar, because a lot of things.”
