Jim Courier, the former world no. 1, believes that Carlos Alcaraz should streamline his 2026 season by cutting back on tournaments early in the year.
The American sees workload management as essential for the 22-year-old Spaniard, who has played a lot of tennis in 2025. Courier suggested that Alcaraz should skip Rotterdam, Monte Carlo and Barcelona in 2026.
That would leave the young gun with only four tournaments in the opening four months of the season, which is highly unlikely, as Carlos has already signed to compete in Rotterdam in February next year.
Per Jim, those three tournaments could make the difference between fatigue and peak performance later in the season, especially during a demanding swing between Madrid and Wimbledon.
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The American believes that it's crucial for the Spaniard to enjoy a three-week rest following the Australian Open. That would provide a crucial recovery window before heading to Doha, Indian Wells and Miami.
Courier continued and suggestedthe six-time Major winner should also skip Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Alcaraz conquered Monte Carlos this year while losing the Barcelona Open final due to injury that forced him to skip Madrid.
Without those two events in his calendar, Carlos would stay fresh for the intense stretch from Madrid through Wimbledon - a run that demands a rapid transition from clay to grass, which is never easy.
As many former champions warn, the longevity at the top requires smarter scheduling. With Alcaraz's explosive style, he would benefited from more rest and recovery time between notable events, especially Majors.
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"Carlos needs several three-week breaks during the season, which requires cuts in the schedule. That would give him time to recover from the travel, rebuild physically and recharge mentally.
Let's start after the Australian Open - Rotterdam, sorry Richard Krajicek, should be out, which would give him a three-week break. Carlos should play in Doha ahead of Indian Wells and Miami.
After that, Monte Carlo should also drop out of his schedule. It's hard for him to skip Barcelona, but that would make him fit ahead of the challenging run between Madrid and Wimbledon.
It's a tough period with little rest, especially with a quick transition from clay to grass. For Carlos, it would be ideal to skip Rotterdam, Monte Carlo and Barcelona," Jim Courier said.
