As the summer of 2025 unfolds, Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2 tennis phenom, stands at a crossroads. Fresh off a hard-fought Wimbledon final loss to Jannik Sinner on July 13, 2025, the 22-year-old Spaniard has been advised by former world No. 2 Alex Corretja to withdraw from the upcoming Canadian Open in Toronto, set for July 27 to August 7. The recommendation comes after an exhausting stretch that saw Alcaraz dominate the clay and grass seasons, only to face physical and mental fatigue as the hard-court swing looms. With a packed schedule and the US Open on the horizon, the call to prioritize rest over the £820,000 prize pool in Toronto has sparked a conversation about the toll of tennis’s relentless calendar on its brightest stars.
Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been a whirlwind of triumphs and challenges. He kicked off the year with a bang, claiming his first indoor hardcourt title at the Rotterdam Open against Alex de Minaur. The clay season brought further glory, with victories at the Monte-Carlo Masters and a second consecutive French Open title, overcoming Sinner in a dramatic five-set final. On grass, Alcaraz defended his Queen’s Club title, defeating Jiri Lehecka in a thrilling 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 battle, before reaching his third straight Wimbledon final. “I just want to keep the good moments and trying to forget the bad moments,” Alcaraz reflected after his 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Sinner, showcasing a maturity honed by past setbacks, like his emotional struggle after losing the 2024 Olympic final to Novak Djokovic. Yet, Corretja warns that the cumulative toll of these efforts—compounded by a month-long stint in London—could jeopardize the second half of his season.
“I never interfere in the schedule my great friend Juan Carlos Ferrero decides with Carlos Alcaraz, but I just hope he doesn’t go to Toronto,” Corretja said on Carrusel Deportivo, emphasizing the need for rest. “All of this is very tiring. I think Carlos Alcaraz needs a bit of rest right now, so that in the second half of the season, when he sometimes loses some steam, he doesn’t really end up feeling so weak.” Corretja’s advice stems from Alcaraz’s history of fatigue-related struggles. In 2024, after a grueling summer that included French Open and Wimbledon titles followed by an Olympic final, Alcaraz skipped the Canadian Open, citing exhaustion. The decision proved wise, though he still faced early exits in Cincinnati and the US Open, highlighting the delicate balance of his schedule.
Alcaraz’s 2025 campaign has not been without hurdles. A right adductor injury and left hamstring issue forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open in April after a punishing clay swing that included Monte-Carlo and a Barcelona final loss to Holger Rune. “I have to listen to my body,” Alcaraz said at the time, a sentiment echoed after his Barcelona defeat: “The second set started with long rallies, intense rallies … I felt something in my right adductor which set alarm bells ringing.” His decision to skip Madrid reflected a long-term approach, prioritizing recovery for the French Open, where he triumphed. Corretja’s current plea aligns with this philosophy, urging Alcaraz’s team to skip Toronto to preserve his energy for Cincinnati, the US Open, and later events like the Shanghai Masters and ATP Finals, where he’s already qualified.
The Canadian Open, a Masters 1000 event, has been a mixed bag for Alcaraz. In 2022, he fell in the second round to Tommy Paul, and in 2023, he reached the quarter-finals, again losing to Paul. Skipping the 2024 edition due to Olympic fatigue allowed him to reset, though his subsequent losses underscored the challenge of maintaining peak form. “It has been a very long season for me and due to the accumulation of matches and fatigue, I will not be able to play in Montreal this year,” Alcaraz noted last year, a statement that resonates now as he faces a similar juncture. The £820,000 winner’s purse in Toronto is tempting, but Corretja argues that Alcaraz’s long-term health and title aspirations—particularly at the US Open, where he aims to reclaim his 2022 crown—take precedence.
The broader context of Alcaraz’s career adds weight to Corretja’s counsel. With five Grand Slam titles, including two French Opens, two Wimbledons, and one US Open, Alcaraz has already etched his name among tennis’s elite. His aggressive baseline style, powered by a lethal forehand, has drawn comparisons to the “Big 4.” Yet, former French Open champion Adriano Panatta recently criticized Alcaraz’s scheduling, arguing that players of his caliber should focus on Grand Slams and select Masters events. “You can’t always play and you can’t do every tournament at your best,” Panatta said, pointing to the physical toll of modern tennis’s intensity. Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the 2023 Davis Cup group stage and 2023 Australian Open due to injuries further underscores the need for strategic breaks.
As Alcaraz prepares for the hard-court season, his next steps will shape his legacy. A confirmed return to Queen’s Club in 2025 signals his commitment to grass, but the immediate focus is on recovery. “I just want to think, okay, I just played a final in a Grand Slam, and trying to forget that I lost it,” Alcaraz said post-Wimbledon, a mindset that reflects his resilience. With the US Open mixed doubles alongside Emma Raducanu looming, and a potential Laver Cup appearance in San Francisco, Alcaraz’s team faces a pivotal decision: heed Corretja’s call for rest or push forward in Toronto, risking burnout for a shot at glory.
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