On June 19, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 2, expressed frustration during his second-round match against Jaume Munar at the Queen’s Club Championships, confronting the umpire over the shot clock’s speed and issuing a five-word demand: “They have to change that,” per Express. After a grueling 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-5 victory lasting 3 hours and 26 minutes, Alcaraz criticized the 25-second shot clock, which starts immediately after a point, saying, “I felt like I had no time to recover between points. I was in a rush all the time,” per BBC Sport. He argued it hindered his routine, especially after long rallies, stating, “I finish the point at the net, I should have a little bit more time,” per ATP Tour.
Both Alcaraz and Munar, who also spoke to the umpire, received time violations, with Alcaraz sarcastically remarking, “That’s crazy,” during one exchange, per Express. Commentator Nick Lester noted Alcaraz’s rare irritation, saying, “It’s unusual for Alcaraz to be a little irate,” per. Posts on X, like @TennisChannel, highlighted the time violation dispute, per. Alcaraz’s complaints echo his 2024 Queen’s loss to Jack Draper, where he also criticized the shot clock trial, vowing to address it with the ATP, per Express. Despite the frustration, Alcaraz advanced to face Arthur Rinderknech, maintaining his 15-match win streak, per The Guardian.
