Alex de Minaur Criticizes ATP’s “Ridiculous” Rules After French Open Loss
Alex de Minaur, joined by other top players, sharply criticized the ATP Tour’s scheduling and ranking rules as “ridiculous” after his unexpected second-round defeat at the 2025 French Open to Alexander Bublik, 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 2-6, on May 29, 2025. The world No. 9 called for a shorter tennis season to address player burnout, a sentiment echoed by Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz.
De Minaur’s Frustration with Scheduling and Rankings
De Minaur blamed his loss, despite a two-set lead, on mental and physical exhaustion from a relentless schedule. He stated, “The solution is you shorten it, because players’ careers are going to get shorter and shorter because they’re going to burn out mentally, it’s just too much tennis.” He criticized the lack of off-season rest, saying, “For the past three or four years, I’ve had two days off after Davis Cup and gone straight into pre-season… Once you start, you don’t finish until November 24. It’s never-ending.” His 2024 hip injury, which sidelined him for Cincinnati, Montreal, and Shanghai, led to ranking point losses, dropping him to No. 9, a rule he found unfair: “My ranking consists of two zeros because I was injured… which is ridiculous if you ask me.”
**Support from Ruud and Alcaraz**
Casper Ruud, defeated by Nuno Borges in the second round, agreed, criticizing the ATP’s system for pushing players to compete despite fatigue or injury to preserve rankings: “The schedule and the way the ranking system pushes you to play as many tournaments as possible is tough.” Carlos Alcaraz, the 2024 French Open champion, also called for fewer mandatory events, stating, “The ATP should reduce the number of tournaments players are obliged to play to avoid injuries and extend careers.” The collective outcry highlights a growing demand for reform.
French Open Performance and Context
De Minaur started strong, defeating Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-4, 7-6, marking his 20th consecutive Grand Slam win against non-top-30 players. However, against Bublik, he faltered after leading two sets, admitting, “There’s no excuse for today, I need to look at myself in the mirror and find out the reasoning.” His loss ended a run of four straight Grand Slam quarter-finals, including the 2024 French Open, where he fell to Alexander Zverev. Despite a solid clay season—semi-finals in Monte-Carlo, fourth-round exits in Madrid and Rome—mental fatigue from a packed schedule was evident.
Broader Push for Change
The players’ demands center on shortening the season and revising ranking rules to protect injured players. De Minaur’s week-long break before Paris, after Rome, was insufficient, underscoring the schedule’s intensity. The ATP’s structure, forcing immediate pre-season training post-Davis Cup, clashes with players’ need for recovery. Alcaraz warned of burnout risks for younger players, suggesting a systemic overhaul is urgent.
Conclusion
Alex de Minaur labeled ATP rules “ridiculous” after his French Open second-round loss to Bublik, citing mental burnout from an unyielding schedule and unfair ranking penalties for injuries. Supported by Ruud and Alcaraz, he urged a shorter season to extend careers. Despite a strong clay season, his Paris exit exposed the toll of the current system. Like Price, Zverev, Littler, Grealish, and Raducanu, De Minaur’s stand is a call for a healthier tennis ecosystem.
