🔗 Share this article

At the point when Daria Kasatkina cut short her 2025 season early in October, the former world number eight detailed how she had "reached her limit."

"The calendar is overwhelming. My mental and emotional state is frayed, and, unfortunately, I'm not alone," she wrote.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had previously declared she was not in "the right headspace" to continue, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also believe the calendar is excessively lengthy.

This issue remains under discussion as the world's top tennis players reconvene in Australia for the start of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been received well. However, several weeks is not regarded as enough time for adequate rest before work commences for an eleven-month schedule regarded as among the most demanding in professional sport.

"The physical requirements of tennis are more intense than in the past," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, medical director at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"Matches and rallies are longer, players are faster, they're hitting the ball harder.

"We have a duty to safeguard our athletes and give them a more viable sport."

So what is being done and what further steps could be enacted?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season lasted 47 weeks for many men on tour, starting with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and ending with the Davis Cup final in late November.

The women's circuit concluded two weeks earlier when the WTA Finals wrapped up in early November. The International Tennis Federation moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to address scheduling concerns.

The men's tour states it does not take the concerns of the players "casually," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not appease the PTPA, which commenced proceedings against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "restrictive policies and an obvious indifference to player health."

Revamping the calendar is an obvious solution but cannot be implemented readily given the intricate web of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have controlling interests.

"It is crucial to evaluate whether we can create more time at the end of the year for an extended off season, or can we create space during the season so there is a short hiatus," added Dr. Sikka.

Former world number one Andy Roddick, a consistent campaigner for adjustments, says the season should not go past 1 November.

The ATP Tour has reduced the number of events which count towards the rankings for 2026, which it is confident will reduce "the cumulative strain" on the players.

"One point that often gets overlooked: players choose their own schedules," commented ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes obligation - recognizing the right time to play and the right time to heal."

Prolonging several mandatory tournaments across a fortnight - creating so-called 'mini Slams' - has also been questioned.

"I think players are more mentally tired and more fatigued because they're away from home for extended periods," said Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

Alongside mental burnout, there are concerns about the increased physical demands.

Players suffer more severe upper-body injuries in certain months, according to player association statistics.

The organization says these "predictable clusters" are down to the seasonal itinerary and the turnarounds between court surfaces.

Minimizing Midnight Matches & Uniform Balls

When a notable match at the Australian Open ended in the wee hours in 2023, it was expected to drive reform.

In 2024, the tours introduced a new rule prohibiting matches commencing later than 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts insist.

"When you are done playing you just don't go home," added Dr. Sikka.

"There are press obligations, recovery sessions, and physio appointments. Your day extends well beyond the match.

"The physical and neurological systems lack adequate time to recuperate. This is a unique demand in the sporting world."

A lack of standardization in tournament equipment - leading to changes in weight and pace - has been cited as a source of a rise in upper body injuries.

"I have suffered numerous arm, shoulder, and wrist issues," stated one top British player, "and I observe these types of injuries becoming more common."

A former US Open champion, who ended his career last year with an ongoing wrist injury, believes tournaments in the same circuit should use one type of ball.

"It shouldn't be too difficult - the same ball for clay, the same for hard and the same for grass. That would be incredibly useful to the players," he said.

The tours moved towards a more centralized ball-selection system during 2025 and anticipate "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Learn from NFL & Protect Young Players

Athletic performance experts believe tennis must take cues from how American team sports use data to direct the wellbeing of its stars.

Using data-led analysis, the NFL required consistent playing surfaces and enhanced helmet technology to lessen the risk of injury.

"The league has altered its regulations using concrete research," said an analytics expert whose firm provides data to monitor player welfare.

"We've seen the economic model is skyrocketing because their games are so competitive and they're keeping players out on the field.

"Their financial commitment matches their rhetoric by protecting athletes and devoting significant resources – that model is the gold standard."

Other leagues have introduced rules aimed at protecting pitchers, limiting their workload at the professional level and putting limits for young players.

Some retired players believe the load put on the upper body of tennis players from a young age is a major contributor in their injuries later on.

"We start playing from such an early age and have so many repetitions of our groundstrokes," said the former champion.

"At some point it goes on the wrist. Way more players have problems with the wrist. I think the problem is the many, many repetitions."

Players 'Motivated' for Change - What Do They Want?

An increasing number of players are becoming vocal about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a coalition of top players ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a increased portion of tournament income, as well as meaningful consultation about the tour schedule duration, extended events and scheduling.

Last year, a top-ten American player said it was "ridiculous" he was only able to take one week off before the new season.

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players occasionally sign up for lucrative non-tour contests.

One Grand Slam champion from Britain says the daily routine is a "challenge" but thinks top players "criticizing the calendar" is not a good look.

"{Uniform