Carlos Alcaraz calls for ‘absurd’ tennis rule change amid criticism of sport direction

Carlos Alcaraz did not look like his usual upbeat self last night. He was wrapped up in frustration, and it was not just about the match.

Even though he got past Karen Khachanov in a tight three-setter to book his place in the Qatar Open semifinals, what everyone was talking about afterwards was his exchange with the umpire during the first set.

Alcaraz had just edged a gruelling rally to gain an advantage at 4-4 when he took a moment to wipe his face before serving again. That was when the umpire hit him with a time violation.

The decision did not sit well with him, and he made that clear both on the court and later during his post-match interview, where he did not hold back on how he felt about what happened.

Carlos Alcaraz calls for rule change in tennis

Speaking to MARCA, the 22-year-old was clear about how he felt regarding the rule and how it was applied.

“The rule of time is absurd. I played a point that ended at the net after a sprint. I went to the towel and didn’t have time. She told me she had stopped the clock, and what she told me was absurd. Even the crowd was shouting, and I couldn’t bounce the ball,” Alcaraz stated.

“They need to have a bit more flexibility or change the rule. I know we have to respect the time, and many times that means I can’t do my normal routine: I bounce the ball faster and ask for fewer balls when I see I’m short on time.”

The Spaniard argued that such strict enforcement can only harm tennis, saying: “Tennis is a show, and when we complain or the ATP complains about needing to attract more people and expand the audience, if we’re not allowed between points to recover as much as possible and then give the best show, we’re not going to gain much because we’ll attract fewer people to watch tennis.”

Khachanov played well but still could not find a way past Alcaraz, who continues his strong run of form.

How umpires can address Carlos Alcaraz’s shot clock complaints

Alcaraz may have called for a major change to the rule, but there might be a simpler way to address his concerns without overhauling everything.

Ultimately, it is a matter of using some common sense.

Even as tennis continues to move towards more automation – whether it is lets or line calls – the shot clock might be better left under the control of the umpire.

This would let them use their judgement, giving players a bit more time to recover after long rallies so matches are not rushed and the quality does not drop off.

If someone is clearly abusing the time limit, then by all means issue a violation. But in situations like what Alcaraz experienced, there needs to be room for discretion.

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