Carlos Alcaraz was not his usual happy self last night, instead embroiled in controversy and frustration.
After all, despite battling through a hard-fought three-set match against Karen Khachanov to reach the semifinals in Qatar, the match was instead overshadowed by the argument the Spaniard had with the umpire midway through the first set.
With the scores at 4-4 and Carlos Alcaraz serving, he had just won an exceptional lung-busting rally to give himself the advantage.
However, as he took his time to wipe his face and return to the service line to serve, the umpire issued him with a time violation.
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Alcaraz was furious with the chair umpire, and clearly, his rage had not subsided when he gave an interview after the match too.
Carlos Alcaraz thinks tennis should make a big rule change
In comments collected by MARCA, the 22-year-old did not hold back in his assessment of the rule or its enforcement.
“The rule of time is absurd,” he began. “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.
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“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.”
Alcaraz explained how rushing the players in such an unsustainable way can only be bad for the sport, arguing: “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.”
Alcaraz proved why he’s almost impossible to beat in his latest win over Khachanov, who, despite a stellar performance, still could not find the answers to inflict defeat on the world number one.
It’s clear how the chair umpires can solve Carlos Alcaraz’s issue
Whilst Alcaraz has called for a complete rule change, there’s perhaps an easier way that tennis could fix this issue without revamping the entire system.
After all, it only really requires a little common sense.
Whilst seemingly everything in tennis is moving towards automation, whether it be lets or line calling, perhaps the shot clock is one that should remain in the umpire’s control.
Therefore, it would allow them to use crucial context and afford players a slightly longer rest after longer points, just to allow them to recuperate and ensure the spectacle can go on without rushing.
If a player is taking far too long to serve to the point where it’s egregious, then a time violation is fair.
But common sense must prevail in certain situations, like the one that has Alcaraz irked.
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