Carlos Alcaraz is heading to New Jersey this December for another exhibition match, and he’s bringing some serious star power with him. The Spanish tennis superstar will face off against Frances Tiafoe at the Prudential Center on December 7th.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Alcaraz has been pretty vocal about the tennis calendar being way too packed. He’s complained about wanting more time at home with his family in Spain. Yet here he is, booking more exhibition matches during what’s supposed to be his off-season.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
It’s creating a bit of a contradiction that fans and critics have noticed.
The 21-year-old five-time Grand Slam champion already played two exhibitions in December 2024. First, he lost to Tiafoe in Charlotte in what sounds like a really fun match. Then he beat Ben Shelton at Madison Square Garden, where Shelton put on his usual entertaining show.
Now they’re doing it again in Newark.
"It is always a lot of fun to be on the court with Frances—we love to compete against each other, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for the fans in Newark," Alcaraz said. "To play again in the metropolitan area with all the amazing fans, it’s something special."
The format’s pretty straightforward: best-of-three sets, with a 10-point tiebreaker if it goes the distance.
The real buzz isn’t just about the guys
Emma Raducanu and Amanda Anisimova will also be playing that night. Raducanu won the US Open back in 2021, while Anisimova just made it to the Wimbledon final in 2025.
Having Alcaraz and Raducanu at the same event is going to create some serious attention. There’s been tons of speculation about these two ever since they teamed up for mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open.
Alcaraz specifically asked to be paired with the British star.
They lost in the first round to Jessica Pegula and Jessica Draper, but they seemed to have a blast on court together. The tennis world went crazy with relationship rumors after that.
Raducanu keeps insisting they’re just friends. She might’ve even revealed her actual boyfriend in an Instagram post after the US Open, but people are still talking.
The exhibition controversy that won’t go away
Here’s the thing that’s got people divided: Should players who complain about scheduling be playing exhibitions?
Some fans think it’s pretty hypocritical. If you’re saying the calendar’s too long and you need rest, maybe don’t book extra matches for appearance fees.
Others argue the intensity is completely different. Taylor Fritz defended Alcaraz on this exact point, saying exhibitions are way more relaxed than actual ATP tournaments.
The 2024 US Open runner-up has a point there.
Billie Jean King hasn’t been as forgiving. She’s criticized Alcaraz for not managing his schedule better, pointing out that the calendar hasn’t changed that much since her playing days.
But tennis is way more physical now than it was back then. Players are hitting harder, moving faster, and putting their bodies through incredible stress every match.
The appearance fees for these exhibitions are probably pretty amazing too. When you’re one of the biggest names in tennis, promoters will pay serious money to get you on court.
For American fans in New Jersey, having Tiafoe and Anisimova gives them home players to cheer for in both matches. It should be a really entertaining night of tennis, even if the stakes are obviously lower than regular tour events.
Whether Alcaraz can keep balancing his complaints about scheduling with his exhibition appearances remains to be seen. But for now, fans get to see some of tennis’s biggest stars in a more relaxed setting.
That’s probably worth the price of admission.
