Carlos Alcaraz slams 'crazy' shot-clock rule at Queen's after defeat to Jack Draper - 'It is something bad'

ByDarren Beattie

Published 20/06/2024 at 21:34 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz suffered his first defeat on grass in almost two years on Thursday when he lost to Jack Draper, but the world No. 2 used his post-match press conference to hit out at the "crazy" shot-clock rule change being trialled at Queen's. At Queen’s, the 25-second “shot clock” starts automatically three seconds after the previous point. Alcaraz said it is "bad" for players.

Carlos Alcaraz has slammed a “crazy” shot-clock rule change that is being trialled at Queen’s.

The world No. 2 was speaking to the media on Thursday after being stunned by Jack Draper in the round of 16, his first defeat on grass since 2022.

While Alcaraz was not prepared to offer an excuse for his below-par performance, he did speak out about the new rule that the ATP has been implementing in London.

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At Queen’s, the 25-second “shot clock” starts automatically three seconds after the previous point.

“I think for the player it is something bad," Alcaraz said at a press conference. "I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls.

"It is crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces.

"I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you [should] have time just to go for a towel or [do] your routine: ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.

“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine. Of course it’s something bad for the players.”

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Focusing on his loss to Draper, Alcaraz stresses that he will not get too down about the result.

"It's tough to deal with the losses, but it is part of our lives. After the loss, you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things to improve for the next tournament," he said.

"I didn't play well, I didn't move well. It doesn't change too much for me. I'm going to keep practicing at 100% to improve, to be a little bit better at Wimbledon."

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