🔗 Share this article

At the point when Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season prematurely in October, the one-time elite competitor described how she had "encountered a barrier."

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

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, a double Wimbledon semi-final participant, had already declared she was not in "the mental space" to persist, while sitting Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also believe the calendar is overly extended.

The topic is still being argued as the world's top tennis players reconvene in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A marginally increased off-season than 2025 has been greeted positively. Nevertheless, several weeks is not regarded as enough time for adequate rest before preparations begin for an season lasting nearly a year considered among the most grueling in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," said Dr. Robby Sikka, head of medicine at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"The duration of play has increased, players are faster, they're hitting the ball harder.

"We owe it to our players to protect them and give them a more sustainable sport."

So what actions are being taken and what additional measures could be taken?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season lasted 47 weeks for many male competitors, beginning with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and concluding with the Davis Cup final in late November.

The WTA Tour season finished two weeks earlier when the tour finals concluded in early November. The governing body 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 "lightly," while the women's tour asserts player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not appease the PTPA, which initiated a lawsuit against the men's and women's tours in March, pointing to "unfair practices and a clear neglect of athlete well-being."

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

"We need to think about whether we can buy back time at the end of the year for an more substantial rest period, or can we buy time during the season so there is a mini-break," said Dr. Sikka.

Former world number one Andy Roddick, a long-time advocate for change, says the season should not go past 1 November.

The ATP Tour has cut the number of events which are included in the rankings for 2026, which it believes will reduce "the cumulative strain" on the players.

"An aspect commonly missed: players choose their own schedules," commented ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes accountability - knowing when to push and when to recover."

Extending several compulsory competitions across a fortnight - creating so-called 'super weeks' - has also been faulted.

"I believe competitors are more worn out mentally and physically 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 apprehensions about the growing physical demands.

Players are more prone to upper-body injuries in particular times of the year, according to player association statistics.

The organization says these "anticipated spikes" are down to the tour schedule layout and the transitions between court surfaces.

Minimizing Midnight Matches & Uniform Balls

When a high-profile game at the Australian Open concluded in the wee hours in 2023, it seemed set to trigger adjustments.

In 2024, the tours brought in a new rule stopping matches commencing later than 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches concluding long after midnight - which medical experts insist.

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

"You have to do media, recover, work with the physiotherapist. Your day doesn't finish until much later.

"There is insufficient opportunity for the body and mind to heal. There is no other sport which mandates that."

Different tournaments playing with different balls - leading to changes in weight and pace - has been cited as a source of increased upper body injuries.

"I have suffered numerous arm, shoulder, and wrist issues," said one top British player, "and such ailments are increasingly prevalent among peers."

A former US Open champion, who retired last year with an chronic wrist problem, argues tournaments in the same swing should use one type of ball.

"Implementing this would not be overly complex - the same ball for clay, the same for hard and the same for grass. That would be extremely beneficial to the players," he said.

The tours moved towards a more centralized ball-selection system during 2025 and expect "full alignment" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Sports scientists believe tennis must take cues from how American team sports use data to guide the welfare of its stars.

Using data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and improved helmet technology to reduce the risk of injury.

"American football has implemented numerous reforms driven by data," 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.

"They are investing heavily in their stated goals by protecting athletes and allocating major funds – that model is the benchmark."

Other leagues have implemented policies aimed at protecting throwers, limiting their exertion at the professional level and putting age restrictions.

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 iterations 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."

Competitors Seek Adjustments - What Are the Key Issues?

An rising contingent of players are finding their voice about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a coalition of top players increasing demands on the Grand Slams with calls for a increased portion of tournament income, as well as genuine dialogue about the length of the season, elongated tournaments and fixture planning.

Last year, a top-ten American player said it was "absurd" 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 exhibition events.

One Grand Slam champion from Britain says the relentless travel is a "test" but thinks top players "complaining about the calendar" is not a good look.

"{Uniform