The grueling tennis calendar has long drawn concern from players, with top stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, and Alexander Zverev repeatedly urging reforms to carve out breathing space during the season.
Ahead of the Laver Cup, Zverev once again addressed the issue, stressing that the schedule has grown increasingly dense and that players deserve a proper offseason.
What Did Alexander Zverev Say About the Schedule Ahead of Laver Cup Participation?
Zverev has been among the most vocal critics of the shrinking recovery windows on tour. Last month, he condemned the ATP’s move to stretch Masters 1000 events to two weeks and its mandate of four 500-level appearances, stressing that the congested schedule leaves players little chance to rest or train properly.
Team Europe, including Alcaraz, Zverev, and captain Yannick Noah, recently participated in the pre-event Laver Cup press conference. During the session, one question touched on the need for scheduling reforms, highlighting the grueling calendar that has led to injuries.
Notably, World No. 6 Ben Shelton and World No. 7 Jack Draper were forced to withdraw during the US Open 2025 due to injury.
Initially, players deferred to one another, but Zverev eventually took charge and spoke:
“Nothing has changed over the last few months. I think we’ve all said it. It feels like we’re playing more and more, and our schedule is more dense than ever. I’ve personally always felt like tennis deserves a proper offseason. Tennis deserves a proper vacation after the season is done and a proper training time, which we don’t really have,” he said.
Zverev also cited Alex de Minaur’s schedule last year as an example of just how short the offseason can be for the players. He pointed out how the Aussie had little time to rest, playing his Davis Cup match in November 2024 before joining Australia for the United Cup in December 2024.
The German later explained that the tennis calendar is overwhelmingly packed, starting with a Grand Slam and ending with the World Tour Finals.
“So for me, it’s just too dense, too much from start to finish, because we’re starting the season with a Grand Slam, and we are finishing the season with the World Tour Finals. You can’t really say I’m taking the first month of this season off, I’m taking the last month of the season off,” he said.
“That’s my opinion. I don’t know how everybody else feels, but I would just wish for everybody, especially for the young guys here, who will be on tour for the next 15 years, that they’re going to get proper rest time at the end of the year. That’s my thought on it,” he added.
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It’s also worth noting that Zverev is a key member of the ATP’s Player Advisory Council (PAC), which acts as a bridge between players and the ATP, representing their interests on tour policies, rules, scheduling, and other matters affecting their professional careers.
Nonetheless, the German star remains focused on delivering his best for Team Europe at the 2025 Laver Cup. While the Day 1 lineup for the three-day event has been revealed, Zverev is notably absent.
