“I’m still dealing with that” – Alex de Minaur blames rigorous ATP schedule for jeopardizing player health after French Open shocker
**Alex de Minaur Blames ATP Schedule for Burnout After French Open Shocker**
Alex de Minaur, the world No. 9, attributed his stunning second-round exit at the 2025 French Open to the ATP’s grueling schedule, stating, “I’m still dealing with that,” as he criticized its toll on player health, per Sportskeeda.com. After losing 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to Alexander Bublik on May 29, 2025, de Minaur warned that the relentless calendar risks shortening careers due to mental and physical burnout. His sentiments, echoed by Casper Ruud and supported by Katie Boulter, parallel Luke Littler’s emotional resilience after his 2025 Premier League Darts final loss.
**De Minaur’s Schedule Critique**
De Minaur, who led by two sets before collapsing against Bublik, lamented the lack of rest, saying, “For the last three, four years, I’ve had two days off after the Davis Cup and gone straight into pre-season… Once you start, you don’t finish until November 24. It’s never-ending,” per ESPN.com. He highlighted the mental toll, noting, “I’m mentally running on fumes,” per Nine.com.au, and called for a shorter season: “The solution is simple: you shorten the schedule,” per TheTennisGazette.com. His 38 matches in 2025, including a Rotterdam title and four consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals in 2024, left him drained, per Puntodebreak.com. The ATP’s mandatory events, with 25% year-end bonus cuts for absences, exacerbate the issue, per Express.co.uk.
**Bublik Match and Mental Fatigue**
De Minaur’s 101.20 average (PDC-style metrics) and 38 winners in the first two sets showcased his speed, but Bublik’s 42 winners and forehand flair in the final three sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-2) exposed de Minaur’s fatigue, per Sportskeeda.com. “I’m not known for losing matches like this… It’s a miracle,” de Minaur said, per TheTennisGazette.com, reflecting on his consistency. His 2024 hip injury, which forced withdrawals from Cincinnati, Montreal, and Shanghai, resulted in ranking penalties, adding to his frustration: “My ranking consists of two zeros… ridiculous,” per Express.co.uk. Boulter consoled him post-match, per TNT Sports.
**Broader Player Concerns**
Casper Ruud, after a four-set loss to Nuno Borges, called the ATP’s ranking system a “rat race,” criticizing rules that “force players to show up injured,” per ESPN.com. Jordan Thompson labeled the schedule “shit,” per ABC.net.au, while de Minaur’s 71 matches in the past year, starting with the United Cup 33 days after the Davis Cup, highlight the grind, per Nine.com.au. Posts on X, like @TheTennisLetter, amplified de Minaur’s call for change, noting, “Players’ careers are going to get shorter,” per.
**Parallels to Littler’s Resilience**
De Minaur’s burnout mirrors Luke Littler’s emotional response after his 11-8 Premier League Darts final loss to Luke Humphries on May 29, 2025, where he admitted, “I’m glad it’s over,” per Express.co.uk. Littler, hit by a foam finger and rattled by a draft, rallied from a tense semi-final against Gerwyn Price, much like de Minaur’s fight despite fatigue. Faith Millar’s support for Littler parallels Boulter’s for de Minaur, while Aryna Sabalenka’s Rome “overreaction” reflection, Emma Raducanu’s coaching quest, and Jannik Sinner’s coach jest response show athletes navigating pressure, per Tennis.com.
**Conclusion**
Alex de Minaur blamed the ATP’s “never-ending” schedule for his 2025 French Open loss to Bublik, saying, “I’m still dealing with that,” per Sportskeeda.com. His call for a shorter season, backed by Ruud and Thompson, warns of burnout, per ESPN.com. Like Littler’s darts grit, Sabalenka’s growth, Raducanu’s resolve, and Sinner’s humor, de Minaur’s fight, supported by Boulter, targets reform. He aims for the grass season next, live on TNT Sports.
