After Alexander Zverev and several other players complained about the hectic playing schedule, former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs responded by criticizing them for their participation in exhibition tournaments.
Zverev is currently in San Francisco for the 2025 Laver Cup. During a pre-event press conference, he criticized the Tour’s scheduling, describing it as “dense.” He mentioned that tennis needs a “proper offseason” and adequate “training time.”
What Did Rennae Stubbs Say After Alexander Zverev & Others Criticized Hectic Playing Schedule?
In response to Zverev’s remarks, Stubbs shared her thoughts on ‘The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.’ She asserted that players and people working within the tennis community should work harder to promote the sport better.
The Aussie expressed her frustration with top players who withdraw from tournaments to participate in exhibition events, stating that this behavior “ticks” her off.
“I just want us as a tennis community to do better about promoting the sport. You’ve got the top player in the world pulling out of a WTA 1000 like three weeks before it’s even happening. The exhos are taking weeks out of the calendar. This is the one thing that ticks me off. I know they’re doing it for money, so it’s like good for them. Get the money! Get the bag! Get the bag players!” Stubbs said.
The former doubles World No. 1 argued that players should not complain about their busy schedules and the number of tournaments they are expected to compete in if they simultaneously play in exhibition matches.
“At the same time you cannot complain about the tours and the weeks and how difficult it is and how many tournaments you have to play when you keep playing them. The difference is you’re playing exhibitions there’s no pressure,” Stubbs said.
You’re just playing for the money. You don’t give a sh*t. At the Laver Cup, no guys are waking up going, Oh my God, I hope I win today. They’re not even playing a regular tournament. It’s just dumb,” she added.
Stubbs maintained that players should not voice their exhaustion at the start of the season during the Australian Open or at the end of the year during the ATP or WTA Finals if they have been engaged in multiple exhibitions leading up to those events.
“So you can’t complain about being exhausted at the start of the Australian Open or exhausted at the end of the year playing the ATP finals when you’re playing three other exhibitions leading into that event. Don’t complain out loud to the tours, about the tours, when the tours. The complaint should be you guys are letting us play exhibitions and that they should be saying no,” she said.
Stubbs also mentioned that in addition to playing exhibitions, players should prioritize representing their nation in the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup, which fosters “camaraderie.”
“The guys who are playing the Billie Jean King Cup, they’re doing the right thing. I think you have to support the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. I think they’re very important for the nation of the sport, the camaraderie for the sport. I think they’re really important and they’re great. Let’s just figure out a way to make these team things and these exhibitions work better for everybody,” Stubbs added.
Zverev, most recently competed at the 2025 US Open, where he defeated Alejandro Tabilo and Jacob Fearnley in the first and second rounds, respectively, before losing to Félix Auger-Aliassime in the third round.
