When a tennis legend speaks, people listen, and Jimmy Connors did not hold back this week. The American icon weighed in on a hot-button issue dividing the tennis world: the decision to slow down court speeds on the ATP Tour. The debate ignited after recent reports and comments from World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, but Connors believes this trend is no accident and is designed to favor the tour’s biggest star.
Why Does Jimmy Connors Believe Slower Courts Favor Carlos Alcaraz?
The controversy began when the Court Pace Index (CPI) for the Paris Masters, the only indoor ATP Masters 1000 event, was reported to have dropped from a fast 46.6 to a medium 35.1. Adding fuel to the fire, Alcaraz himself told the media he prefers slower conditions before his tournament run.
Discussing the homogenization of surfaces on his podcast, Connors suggested that tournament directors are simply giving their top attractions what they want. He pointed out that both the Shanghai and Paris tournaments, once known for being faster, have noticeably slowed in recent years.
“Of course, but you got to give the top players what they want. You know, ‘He (Alcaraz) likes it slower, he plays better slower, he’s younger, he’s able to run there guys around, he’s got variety,’ so you’re not going to not give him what he wants because he’s the best player, right?” Jimmy Connors told his son, Brett, when asked about Carlos Alcaraz’s preference for the slower conditions at the 2025 Paris Masters.
This modern approach contrasts sharply with Connors’ own experience. He reminisced about his playing days in the 1970s and 1980s, an era defined by variety. Players had to adapt weekly to wildly different surfaces. While the 73-year-old wasn’t a fan of the current one-size-fits-all model, he acknowledged that the game has evolved.
“I played in the old days, when you play one week on clay, you’re playing on mud in Paris and the next week you’re playing on grass in Queens where the ball goes about six inches up. And then the next [week], you go to indoor tennis… that’s why our game had variety,” he added. “How many years we’ve talked about it that they made the courts available for all the players to play the same way… which is okay, that’s the game today. The equipment, the strings, the balls have changed that.”
Meanwhile, Alcaraz had initially praised the change before his second-round match against Cameron Norrie at the Paris Masters. He claimed the slower speed was an improvement over last year and even asserted that it allows for “real tennis.”
“This year is completely different compared to last year. It’s slower. If the court is slower, you can see real tennis being played, it’s not just a matter of quality of serve,” Carlos Alcaraz said during a pre-tournament press conference in Paris earlier this week.
🇪🇸 Carlos Alcaraz says he prefers the conditions of this year’s Paris Masters, which is slower:
“This year is completely different compared to last year. It’s slower.
“If the court is slower, you can see real tennis being played, it’s not just a matter of quality of serve.… pic.twitter.com/CDrxGDDO8P
— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) October 25, 2025
Unfortunately for the World No. 1, his praise was short-lived. The 22-year-old suffered a stunning upset defeat to Norrie on Tuesday, October 28, crashing out 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a surprisingly temperamental performance.
Did Alcaraz’s Opinion Change After His Upset Loss?
As his match against Norrie slipped away, Alcaraz’s mood soured. While spraying unforced errors, the Spaniard appeared to reverse his earlier opinion on the court speed completely. According to a fan’s post on X, the World No. 1 complained to his players’ box that the indoor hardcourt was playing slower than a clay court.
“This is clay, this is worse than Monte Carlo,” Carlos Alcaraz reportedly told his team on Tuesday during the loss.
Alcaraz few days back: “It’s much slower, but I like it this way. <> For me, it’s a really good speed. I’ve always said that I prefer slower courts.”
Alcaraz complaining today (or just having a bad day): “This is clay, this is worse than Monte Carlo.”
Make it make sense… 🫠 pic.twitter.com/T4UvBAu2uS
— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) October 28, 2025
Now, the six-time Major winner must regroup ahead of next month’s ATP Finals in Turin, which will also be played on indoor hardcourts.
With the year-end World No. 1 ranking on the line in a tight tussle with Jannik Sinner, the Spaniard will be eager to put this performance behind him and deliver a strong showing at the elite tournament.