John McEnroe has used a trip to Spain to come down hard on modern player complaints of a tennis schedule which is leaving players injured as an 11-month campaign drags on.

Mac, noted these days as a controversial tennis commentator, certainly gave “get off my lawn” vibes as he blasted the current ATP crop of competitors.

The ongoing Shanghai Masters is missing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz through injury as the season hits the final sprint to the mid-November Finals in Turin.

“We used to play more than they’re playing now , just so you know,” the 67-year-old said of his career which began half a century ago..

“Maybe it’s physically harder, or maybe they get more tired, I don’t know. They say they play very fast. Perhaps they need to rest more.”

The American told radio Cadena Ser: “We used to play the Australian Open at Christmas, and now I get the feeling that tennis players play whenever they want.”

Mac said that today’s boatloads of prize money can apparently buy tennis happiness – as long as players keep plugging away on the tournament treadmill.

“Tournaments are all about money; there are a thousand competitions, so they earn more. They give you more days, and you keep making money.”

More and more players are joining the chorus of complaints about the expanded Masters 1000 series – formerly lasting the standard seven days.

Under the current ATP iteration, the event can now stretch to 12-13 days, draining players of energy and leaving little or no time between one event and the other on a chock-a-block calendar.

Carlos Alcaraz will headline the field as the Australian Open stages its 1-Point Slam for a third consecutive year, pitting Tour pros against Aussie amateur in a one-off cash grab prior to the start of the first Grand Slam of 2027.

The event made Aussie dollar millionaires (USD 690,000) out of local wannabes for the opening two editions and will be back for another round in January in Melbourne.

AO holder Alcaraz is expected to be joined by Jannik Sinner, through there might be an asterisk next to the name of the world No. 1 after he shut down this season to deal with a lingering knee injury.

Also in the field.for the one-night shootout will be WTA players Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, with more to be announced later.

The all-or-nothing format comprises one point per match, with winners advancing and servers chosen by the Rock, Paper, Scissors method.

After a debut edition in 2025 during which local journeyman Omar Jasika pocketed the inaugural A$60,000 (USD41,736) for victory, the 2026 sum was kicked up to a flat 1 million.

“The AO 1 Point Slam is unlike anything else in world ‌sport,” ⁠Australian Open official Tom Larner said. “It creates an opportunity for grassroots tennis players to share the spotlight with some of the biggest names in the game and delivers a level of excitement that ⁠only the Australian Open can provide.”

Amatuers will play over the coming weeks at local clubs for a chance to reach the finals field, with the event staged for an evening during the week prior to the start of the actual major.

The Open proper runs from January 17-31.

Carlos Alcaraz began his Asian swing with a 7-6. 6-4, Tokyo title victory which thrust the Spaniard among the sports’s elites after successfully defending the Japan Open trophy on Tuesday.

Alcaraz backed up his 2025 trophy at the Ariake colosseum, matching the back-to-back wins here of Stefan Edberg (1989-1991) and Pete Sampras (1993-1994).

Alcaraz, who missed almost five months of play due to a wrist injury, picked up this third title of the season after the Australian Open and Doha in February.

The Spaniard was all smiles after his win, telling Britain’s Sky: “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury.”

The winner  called the experience “a tough week (where) I didn’t find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find the good solutions.

“That’s what matters in the end.”

The winner called the final “the best match of the week, or at least more consistent the level that I played, so I’m just really, really happy.”

Alcaraz rallied from 4-2 down in the opening-set tiebreaker, winning five straight points to secure the set.

In the second, one break of his Czech opponent was enough to lift the trophy after 96 minutes.

The world No. 3 said that his enforced injury absence serves as a learning experience.

“A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind. If you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to come back the same as I was before. If I will be able to get the ball normal without pain at all/.

“But I try to put those thoughts away all the time. My team and I knew that if I come back, I’m going to be healthy 100 percent.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz lifts Japan Open trophy – © ATPTour.com