Rennae Stubbs Delivers Brutal Rant Against Carlos Alcaraz: “It’s Difficult to Take Him Seriously”
Rennae Stubbs, the former Australian tennis player and ex-coach of Serena Williams, unleashed a scathing critique of Carlos Alcaraz and other top players complaining about the tennis calendar, stating it’s “difficult to take him seriously” given their participation in lucrative exhibitions. In the latest episode of her podcast, Stubbs highlighted the hypocrisy amid calls for a shorter schedule from Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and others, pointing out that Alcaraz is “literally registered in almost all the December exhibitions” like the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. Her comments, published on October 4, 2025, by Puntodebreak, underscore frustration with players who decry the demanding tour while opting into high-paying off-season events, potentially exacerbating fatigue.
The Rant: Hypocrisy in the Complaints
Stubbs’ takedown came in response to Alcaraz’s recent withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters due to physical issues, echoing his earlier agreement with Świątek that the calendar is “too tight” and needs reform with fewer mandatory tournaments. Alcaraz, who won the Japan Open on September 30 but skipped Shanghai for recovery, has voiced concerns about the “continuity of tournaments” making everything “very demanding.” Stubbs countered: “It seems funny to me because, much as I love Carlos, lately I’ve seen that he is literally registered in almost all the December exhibitions… It’s hard to take the players seriously when they say: yes, the calendar needs to be more condensed to be able to go to exhibitions.” She doesn’t blame the players entirely, noting the tours need changes, but the “brutal” edge targets the inconsistency between tour complaints and exhibition commitments, like the Saudi event featuring Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Tsitsipas.
This fits into a broader debate: Novak Djokovic fired back at Alcaraz and Świątek, accusing players of lacking unity while skipping Asian tour events for rest or exhibitions. Stubbs, a six-time Grand Slam doubles winner, has been vocal on player welfare but sees exhibitions as undermining credibility.
Alcaraz’s 2025: Dominance Amid Demands
Alcaraz’s season has been historic—eight titles, including the Japan Open (avenging a Laver Cup loss to Fritz 6-4, 6-4)—but physical tolls like an ankle scare prompted his Shanghai skip. With 67 wins (67-7 record), he’s chasing year-end No. 1, but Stubbs’ rant questions the sincerity of his calendar gripes amid exhibition plans.
Stubbs’ podcast episode, amid rising injury rates (e.g., Paula Badosa’s season-ending back issue), calls for genuine reform over “funny” contradictions. As Alcaraz eyes Paris-Bercy and ATP Finals, her words sting—highlighting the brutal realities of elite tennis.
