🔗 Share this article

At the point when Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season ahead of schedule in October, the former world number eight explained how she had "hit a wall."

"The calendar is overwhelming. Psychologically and emotionally, I am drained, and, unfortunately, I'm not alone," she wrote.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, a double Wimbledon semi-final participant, had previously announced she was not in "the psychological condition" to persist, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also believe the calendar is too long.

This subject is still being argued as the world's foremost tennis players assemble once more in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A slightly longer off-season than 2025 has been welcomed. Nonetheless, a handful of weeks is not seen as enough time for adequate recuperation before work commences for an eleven-month schedule regarded as among the most grueling in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, chief medical officer at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

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

"It is our obligation to shield the competitors and give them a more manageable sport."

So what actions are being taken and what further steps could be enacted?

Condensing the Tour Schedule

The 2025 season covered 47 weeks for many players on the ATP circuit, 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 ended two weeks earlier when the WTA Finals concluded in early November. The governing body moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to address scheduling concerns.

ATP officials claim it does not take the concerns of the players "casually," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "perpetually be the highest focus."

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

Overhauling the calendar is an clear answer but cannot be accomplished simply given the intricate web of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have significant influence.

"We need to think about whether we can create more time at the end of the year for an extended off season, or can we buy time during the season so there is a mini-break," 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 cut the number of events which count towards the rankings for 2026, which it believes will diminish "overall demands" on the players.

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

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes responsibility - understanding when to compete and when to rest."

Extending several compulsory competitions across a fortnight - creating so-called 'mini Slams' - has also been criticized.

"In my view, athletes are more psychologically drained and exhausted because they're away from home for extended periods," opined Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

In addition to mental burnout, there are concerns about the increased physical demands.

Players experience a higher rate of upper-body injuries in specific periods, according to player association statistics.

The organization says these "foreseeable patterns" are down to the seasonal itinerary and the transitions between court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

When a high-profile game at the Australian Open finished in the middle of the night in 2023, it seemed set to trigger adjustments.

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

But there have persisted instances of matches concluding long after midnight - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

"Once the final point is played, a player's duties continue," explained 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. There is no other sport which mandates that."

A lack of standardization in tournament equipment - leading to changes in feel and performance - has been pointed to as a source of increased upper body injuries.

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

A former US Open champion, who stepped away last year with an ongoing wrist injury, thinks 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 standardized equipment policy during 2025 and anticipate "full alignment" in the coming years.

Emulate American Sports & Safeguard Juniors

Athletic performance experts believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to direct the health of its stars.

Following data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and enhanced helmet technology to lessen 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.

"Their commercial success has soared because their games are so competitive and they're ensuring star athletes are available.

"They're putting their money where their mouth is by protecting athletes and allocating major funds – that model is the gold standard."

Other leagues have enacted regulations aimed at protecting throwers, limiting their throws at the professional level and putting limits for young players.

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

"We pick up a racket as kids and have so many countless swings of our groundstrokes," said the former champion.

"Over time, the wrist suffers the consequences. 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 increasing number of players are becoming vocal about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a group of stars ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as genuine dialogue about the calendar extent, extended events and fixture planning.

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

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players occasionally sign up for lucrative non-tour contests.

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

"{Uniform