Carlos Alcaraz‘s preparations for the 2025 Indian Wells Open will differ from previous years after he committed to playing at an exhibition event in Puerto Rico, but his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has defended that decision.
Alcaraz is set to feature alongside Frances Tiafoe in Puerto Rico on March 2nd. The duo also played an exhibition together in Charlotte during the off-season, where Tiafoe won after producing some inspired tennis.
Although it will be a terrific occasion for fans in Puerto Rico, some might question why Alcaraz is playing an exhibition just days before the 2025 Indian Wells Open main draw starts.
This will be Alcaraz’s third exhibition in less than three months, following a match with Ben Shelton in December and the one with Tiafoe in Charlotte.
However, Ferrero does not think that is an issue. He told El Nuevo Dia that the atmosphere in an exhibition allows players to relax, which can help Alcaraz before focusing on the intensity needed to win the Indian Wells Open.
“Exhibitions help to relax a little; the game is played in a different way. In the end, it’s played at a very high level of intensity, and playing this kind of match, with a bit more smiling and entertainment for the spectators, always helps to relax a bit.”
Alcaraz’s comments about the ATP schedule are significant reasons why some might raise eyebrows at his consistent exhibition play. The 21-year-old has previously expressed that the intensity of the calendar is challenging to manage and wishes he had more time at home.
Despite the opportunity to spend time with family during the off-season, Alcaraz chose to travel to the U.S. for exhibitions with Shelton and Tiafoe, somewhat contradicting his earlier statements.
Taylor Fritz, whose withdrawal contributed to the postponement of the MGM Rewards Slam exhibition event, defended Alcaraz and argued against the hypocrisy accusations aimed at players who criticize the ATP schedule yet participate in exhibitions.
Fritz’s reasoning aligns with Ferrero’s, stating that exhibitions should never be compared to ATP tournaments due to the competitive edge players have in professional events.
Hopefully, Fritz will be fit for the Indian Wells Open. He withdrew from the 2025 Mexican Open because of an abdominal injury he has been managing and also missed the Las Vegas exhibition due to this.
Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at the Indian Wells Open. Fritz’s absence could make Alcaraz’s potential route to a third consecutive title in California easier, as Fritz won the title in 2022.
Jannik Sinner has already been confirmed as not playing in Indian Wells due to his suspension until May 4th. The ATP world No. 1 reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency to prevent his case for testing positive for clostebol from going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.