"Carlos Alcaraz is stupid", "Money hungry, selfish" - Fans criticize Spaniard over upcoming exhibition with Frances Tiafoe amid schedule complaints

On Tuesday, December 17, it was revealed that Carlos Alcaraz has committed to taking part in an exhibition event in Puerto Rico ahead of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The event is also set to feature Frances Tiafoe. However, several tennis fans have been irked by Alcaraz's upcoming participation in yet another exhibition tournament.

During his Laver Cup debut earlier this year, Alcaraz suggested that the hectic tennis calendar is likely to come with devastating consequences for players in the future.

"Probably during the next few years, it’s going to be even more mandatory tournaments. Probably they are gonna kill us in some way. Right now there are ... a lot of injured (players) because of the calendar. Probably at some point a lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of that," the Spaniard told reporters.

Alcaraz reiterated his stance after winning the 2024 China Open. These critiques of the tennis calendar sparked mixed reactions. Several prominent tennis personalities and fans questioned World No. 3's views due to his continued participation across a number of high-profile exhibition events, such as the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia and the more recent Garden Cup exhibition match against Ben Shelton at Madison Square Garden.

Alcaraz once again came under fire after his March 2025 exhibition alongside Frances Tiafoe was announced.

A section of fans perceived Alcaraz's decision to play at numerous exhibitions to be the Spaniard's greed for more money. One fan also compared the Spaniard with reigning World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

"Carlos is stupid I think…bro stop chasing money," a fan wrote.

"What can I say? The most money-hungry, selfish psychopath in tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, is back at it. Sinner, on the other hand, is the complete opposite—the most humble, relatable, and charitable tennis player this sport has ever seen," commented another fan.

"Oh the season is too long," another chimed in sarcastically, followed by two USD emojis.

Another set of fans suggested that the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion is needlessly exerting himself by featuring in exhibition events.

"At the end of the season he will say there are too many matches for a player, it's funny he continues to join exhibitions!" wrote one.

"Not a wise decision given his laundry list of injuries. Rest your body for real tournaments and the money will come," another added.

"I mean yeah he is just an unserious player, it is what it is," weighed in yet another fan.

Only time will tell if Carlos Alcaraz's decision to take part in the exhibition event in Puerto Rico has any effect on his campaign at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The Spaniard is the two-time reigning champion at the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz came out on top against same opponent to clinch BNP Paribas Open titles in 2023 and 2024

Carlos Alcaraz (Source: Getty)

Former World No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev was at the receiving end of two absolute hammerings from Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 and 2024 finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

In 2023, Alcaraz stormed to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Medvedev, ending the Russian's 19-match winning streak but earning his plaudits for Alcaraz's respect for peers. It marked the Spaniard's third Masters 1000 title triumph and it sealed his return to the top spot on the ATP Tour rankings as he dethroned Novak Djokovic.

In this year's final, Medvedev put up a decent fight in the first set, but ultimately, the Spaniard kept the Indian Wells crown in style with a 7-6(5), 6-1 win. On this occasion, the title was Carlos Alcaraz's fifth at the Masters 1000 level and 13th overall on the ATP Tour.