Earlier this year, we saw Carlos Alcaraz leading the packs when it came to taking a jibe at the higher authorities over the hectic schedule in the 2024 season. He even said, “During the next few years, it’s going to be even more mandatory tournaments. Probably they are going to kill us in some way.” Alcaraz has already played 61 matches this season on the Tour. However, apart from that, he has played quite a few exhibition matches this season. So, after seeing him take part in these vents, several experts and tennis fans have heavily criticized the Spaniard for the same. However, amid the backlash, another former ATP player recently made a comment on this. And, it’s not so pleasant!

After seeing ‘Carlos Alcaraz Show’ at the Madison Square Garden and Charlotte, we saw Andy Roddick taking a slight dig at one of his favorite tennis players. Roddick said, “He’s sort of at the point where he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, and that’s a tough situation, it really is. He’s going to have to learn how to schedule, how to say no, maybe slightly disappoint someone, sometimes to keep his sanity over time.”

Not only Roddick but even ATP Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi recently took a swipe at Carlos Alcaraz and others over exhibitions as he hits back over calendar complaints. He said, “Players choose to play many exhibitions outside the circuit. We don’t see that in other sports…Reduce the season? Yes, but it will then be necessary to reduce the number of ATP 250 tournaments. Afterwards, players can also decide to do fewer exhibitions and spend more time at home to rest.”

However, after hearing about these constant backlashes on players for taking part in the exhibition events, recently American former tennis player, Sam Querrey shared his opinion the same on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast. What is his take on this, though? He said, “One, you always hear about the players that people complain that the off-season being too long and players do these exhibitions. Whether these ones, Abu Dhabi, or the massive exhibitions in Asia-Inai, So, I think the players as much as they talk about the off-season they don’t really want offseasons.” Reason? Well, Querrey further added, “Because they want to make a bunch of money playing these exhibitions!“

Talking about money players get from these exhibitions, previously, after winning around $1.5 million over four days at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Carlos Alcaraz was asked if money was the key motivation to take part in that exhibition event. During that time, he said, “I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about the money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and that’s it.” As per several reports, Alcaraz probably made lucrative paychecks by playing in Riyadh, Madison Square Garden and Charlotte.

In the recent podcast, Querrey went on to explain a bit about his “awesome” experience of witnessing tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe enlightening the stage during the exhibition events. However, with the 2024 season coming to an end we’re just a few weeks away from kick-starting the campaign for the 2025 season. What are Sam Querrey’s predictions for Carlos Alcaraz in 2025?

Carlos Alcaraz has already set his eyes on claiming a career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments when he competes at the AO in January. If he manages to do that in Melbourne, he’d become the youngest male to complete the feat since his idol, Rafael Nadal. He has now won every Grand Slam title apart from the AO. Talking about his chances at the 2025 AO, he was heard admitting, “I am a very ambitious person and I want to win the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam.“

He further added, “I want 2025 to be even more exciting. Let’s say I want more. Australia is what I want to tattoo, even if my father doesn’t like it very much. Being champion there is my main goal for next season.” His best record in Melbourne was reaching the QF this season. Can he come up with some more major titles in the 2025 season?

Well, while speaking on Carlos Alcaraz’s chances in the 2025 season, Sam Querrey made some interesting comments in November. He said, “This might sound crazy, but like I’m selling like a bit of my Alcaraz stock I’ve like lost a little faith in him here late. I can see him ending next year at like five in the world… I’m betting that Alcaraz will end next year ranked four or worse.“ The 37-year-old further added, “He’s ranked three right now for Christ’s sake. I mean, it’s not like he’s two and like dominating the others.” He also predicted that Carlos Alcaraz would continue to have injury struggles due to the hectic schedule that he continues to have. What do you think about, Alcaraz’s chances in 2025?