{"id":1781397,"date":"2026-02-20T12:45:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T09:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1781397"},"modified":"2026-02-20T12:45:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T09:45:21","slug":"carlos-alcaraz-lambasts-absurd-rule-after-umpire-argument-at-qatar-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1781397","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz lambasts &#8216;absurd&#8217; rule after umpire argument at Qatar Open"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Carlos Alcaraz lambasts \u2018absurd\u2019 rule after umpire argument at Qatar Open<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"20 Feb 2026 12:45 PM\" data-ps-date=\"20 Feb 2026 12:45 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1771591521\"><br \/>\n                            20 Feb 2026 12:45 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-atp-time-rule-argument-umpire-qatar-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fcarlos-alcaraz-atp-time-rule-argument-umpire-qatar-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fcarlos-alcaraz-atp-time-rule-argument-umpire-qatar-open\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fcarlos-alcaraz-atp-time-rule-argument-umpire-qatar-open\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fcarlos-alcaraz-atp-time-rule-argument-umpire-qatar-open\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a class=\"!text-share-icon hover:!text-share-icon-active flex items-center justify-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" aria-label=\"Follow Tennis365 on Google Search\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Carlos Alcaraz lambasts \u2018absurd\u2019 rule after umpire argument at Qatar Open\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Carlos-Alcaraz-AO-SF-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Carlos Alcaraz reacts during a match.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                ATP Tour star Carlos Alcaraz reacts during a match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has spoken after he branded the ATP Tour\u2019s time rule \u201cs***\u201d following an argument with the chair umpire at the 2026 Qatar Open.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Alcaraz<\/a> defeated world No 17 Karen Khachanov 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 tournament in Doha.<\/p>\n<p>When serving at 4-4 during a hard-fought opening set, Alcaraz was given a time violation by chair umpire\u00a0Marija Cicak as he was not ready to serve when time had elapsed on the 25-second shot clock.<\/p>\n<p>Here is Alcaraz\u2019s exchange with Cicak.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Umpire:<\/strong> \u201cI stopped the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alcaraz:<\/strong> \u201cNo you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Umpire:<\/strong> \u201cI did. I stopped time at 25 seconds when it started. Then you got the towel. Then I started the clock again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alcaraz: <\/strong>\u201cHow much time did you stop the clock? Tell me\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Umpire:<\/strong> \u201cCarlos, I stopped it \u2019til you reached there. I stopped it at 25 seconds \u2019til you actually reached the towel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alcaraz: <\/strong>\u201cAlright. So I\u2019m not allowed to go to the towel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Umpire: <\/strong>\u201cI stopped it \u2019til you reached the area there where you asked the kid to get the towel. I can\u2019t cancel it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alcaraz: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m not allowed to go to the towel. I\u2019m not allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Umpire: <\/strong>\u201cYes, I understand, but I can\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz\u2019s complaints continued during the changeover, which led Cicak to say \u201cI can\u2019t invent more time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz then turned towards his entourage and said: \u201cThe ATP rules are always s***, it\u2019s s***, s***.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p>\u201cthe atp rules are always shit, they\u2019re shit\u201d oh carlos <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jet3Qjv65M\">pic.twitter.com\/jet3Qjv65M<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ola ! #A1CARAZ (@bIuezoya) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bIuezoya\/status\/2024537161710637433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>ATP Tour News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/how-jannik-sinner-qatar-open-loss-affects-carlos-alcaraz-world-no-1-chase\"><strong>How Jannik Sinner\u2019s Qatar Open loss affects hopes of catching world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinners-speaks-qatar-open-loss-jakub-mensik\"><strong>Everything Jannik Sinner said after surprise Qatar Open loss to Jakub Mensik<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Spanish media after the match, Alcaraz described the time rule as \u201cabsurd\u201d and called for \u201cmore leniency\u201d or \u201ca reconsideration of the rule.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, I think the time rule is absurd,\u201d the seven-time Grand Slam champion said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter a very demanding point, finishing at the net, sprinting to my towel, I practically had no time left.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe (the umpire) told me she stopped the clock when I was on my towel, but from then until I called for the balls and prepared to serve, I had no time to spare. To me, that makes no sense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBesides, the crowd was still shouting and cheering, which also causes delays. I looked at the clock when there were three or four seconds left and I didn\u2019t have enough time to serve, but she still gave me a warning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I think there should be a bit more leniency, even a reconsideration of the rule, because in such tough matches, the same thing always happens, and to me, it\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Spaniard continued: \u201cI think many players feel the same way. Some are faster, and others have slightly slower routines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI try to adapt as much as possible, and in many matches, I know I have to respect the time, so I change my routine: I call for fewer balls, I move faster, I bounce the ball less if I see I\u2019m running out of time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut tennis is also about entertainment. The ATP says it wants to attract more people, to broaden its audience. If they don\u2019t allow us time to recover between points to offer the best possible level, everything goes too fast, and it\u2019s difficult to engage the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the umpires should be more flexible or, better yet, add a few more seconds to the clock. With a little more leeway, we can prepare better to put on a show on every point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-cheeky-warning-french-atp-star\">Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner get cheeky warning from French ATP star<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carlos Alcaraz lambasts \u2018absurd\u2019 rule after umpire argument at Qatar Open Ewan West 20 Feb 2026 12:45 PM ATP Tour star Carlos Alcaraz reacts during a match World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has spoken after he branded the ATP Tour\u2019s time rule \u201cs***\u201d following an argument with the chair umpire at the 2026 Qatar Open. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1781397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1781397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781397\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1781397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1781397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1781397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}