Carlos Alcaraz advocates for drastic rule change after being warned during Queen’s match
Carlos Alcaraz has voiced his frustration over the implementation of the shot clock during his latest match at the ATP 500 event at Queen’s.
The Spaniard was victorious 7-5, 6-4 against Arthur Rinderknech in the quarter-finals and looked in solid form, less than 24 hours after surviving a 3-and-a-half-hour battle against Jaume Munar.
Despite the win, the five-time Grand Slam champion was handed a warning during the match for – according to the umpire – going beyond the allotted time between points.
According to the ATP rulebook: “A Time or Code Violation must be assessed if the ball is not struck for the next point within the twenty-five (25) seconds allowed, except if the Chair Umpire extends the time for special circumstances defined by ATP. There is no time warning prior to the expiration of the twenty-five (25) seconds.”
However, as is stated within the rule, the umpire may delay the start of the shot clock due to crowd noise or an extended prior rally.
“It was a really long match,” commented Alcaraz, whilst speaking on the Tennis Channel.
“The conditions were extreme with the heat. It was really, really hot out there, and yeah, really long rallies, long games. I felt like I had no time to recover between points. I was in a rush all the time.
“So it was kind of I can’t approach the next point in an appropriate way. I mean, that talk with the umpire, it wasn’t because of that I didn’t lose the focus, but it was a problem all the time with all the clock.
“Jaume [Munar] talked to the umpire with the same thing. They have to change that. But yeah, I mean, they have to know where to put the clock, you know, right after the point or wait a little bit.
“Because after long points, long rallies, I finish the point at the net, I should have a little bit more time just to approach the next point in a proper way. That’s what I felt today.”
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Alcaraz’s latest win was his 15th-consecutive victory, after lifting the trophy in both Rome and Roland-Garros – and was asked how he manages to ‘dig deep’ so regularly.
“Yeah, it’s really important to think positive all the time,” analysed the four-time Grand Slam champion.
“Today there were a few moments that I didn’t think positive at all.
“But I didn’t give up. So I think that’s the most important thing. So probably negative thoughts come to your mind in a few moments, but the most important thing is you don’t give up.
“You just keep fighting. You just have to keep playing and know that the opponent was going to give you chances to put yourself into the match again.
“That’s what I thought today. Just keep fighting and show the opponent that if he wants to beat you, he has to play at his best level. I think that’s a great mentality, a great thing to show to the opponent.”
Alcaraz will next play veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in the last four.
