**Alex de Minaur’s French Open Defeat Sparks Call for Tennis Schedule Reform**
Alex de Minaur, nicknamed “Demon,” labeled the ATP’s grueling schedule “not normal” after a draining second-round loss at the 2025 French Open on May 29, 2025, joining a chorus of players demanding change. The Australian No. 1 fell 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6 to Alexander Bublik in a five-set battle at Roland Garros, leaving Alexei Popyrin as the last Australian man standing. De Minaur’s plea for a shorter season, echoed by Casper Ruud’s “rat race” critique, highlights the physical and mental toll on players.
**De Minaur’s Exhaustion and Call for Change**
After his 3-hour, 20-minute defeat, de Minaur, ranked No. 9, voiced frustration over the relentless tennis calendar. “What’s not normal is that for the last three, four years I’ve had two days off after the Davis Cup and gone straight into pre-season,” he said, per Yahoo Sports Australia. “The solution is simple: you shorten the schedule, right?” His comments followed a match where he led by two sets but faltered, citing mental fatigue. “I’m running on fumes,” he admitted, criticizing the lack of rest after the United Cup, which started 33 days post-Davis Cup. Katie Boulter, his fiancée, was spotted consoling him in the Roland Garros gym, a moment shared by TNT Sports.[](https://au.news.yahoo.com/not-normal-demon-calls-big-224328382.html)
**Context of the Loss**
De Minaur’s defeat to Bublik, ranked No. 19, marked another Grand Slam disappointment. Despite a strong start with 38 winners and a 101.20 average (PDC-style metrics), his 42 unforced errors and Bublik’s flair, including a tweener, swung the match. De Minaur’s 2025 season, with a 22-10 record and a Rotterdam title, has been solid, but early exits in Doha, Indian Wells, and Monte-Carlo exposed vulnerabilities. His 2024 French Open quarter-final run raised hopes, but this loss underscored scheduling strain, as Bublik capitalized on his fatigue in the fifth set.
**Broader Push for Reform**
De Minaur’s stance aligns with players like Ruud, who slammed the ATP’s “rat race” after a Monte-Carlo loss. The packed calendar, with 11 Masters 1000 events, four Grand Slams, and team competitions, leaves little recovery time. Daria Kasatkina, advancing to the third round, also hinted at Australian Open concerns, per Yahoo Sports Australia. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, whose physio underwent emergency surgery on the same day, faces similar physical challenges, needing injections for a toe blister. De Minaur’s call for fewer events or extended off-seasons aims to prevent burnout and injuries, a sentiment gaining traction.[](https://au.news.yahoo.com/not-normal-demon-calls-big-224328382.html)
**Parallels in Sports**
De Minaur’s reform push mirrors Luke Littler’s resilience after objects were thrown at him before his Premier League Darts final loss to Humphries, whose 130 checkout clinched victory. Like Djokovic’s concern for his physio, Fallon Sherrock’s health-driven break, Gerwyn Price’s crowd defiance, and Alexander Zverev’s watch wager, de Minaur’s stand reflects athletes confronting systemic pressures. Boulter’s support post-match, akin to Faith Millar cheering Littler, underscores personal bonds amid professional strife.
**Conclusion**
Alex de Minaur, dubbed “Demon,” called the ATP’s grueling schedule “not normal” after a five-set French Open loss to Bublik on May 29, 2025, urging a shorter season. His exhaustion, comforted by Boulter, echoes Ruud and Kasatkina’s reform calls. Like Littler, Djokovic, Sherrock, Price, and Zverev, de Minaur’s fight against adversity—physical and systemic—defines his resolve. He targets the grass season next, live on TNT Sports.
