🔗 Share this article

After Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season ahead of schedule in October, the one-time elite competitor described how she had "reached her limit."

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

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a double Wimbledon semi-final participant, had earlier revealed she was not in "the psychological condition" to persist, while sitting Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also think the calendar is too long.

This subject is still being argued as the world's top tennis players reconvene in Australia for the commencement of the 2026 season.

A marginally increased off-season than 2025 has been welcomed. However, a few weeks is not considered adequate time for thorough recuperation before work commences for an eleven-month schedule seen as among the most grueling in professional sport.

"The demands of tennis are harder than ever before," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, head of medicine at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"Matches and rallies are longer, 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 measures are in place and what further steps could be enacted?

Shortening the Season

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

The women's circuit ended two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships concluded in early November. The ITF moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to help combat scheduling concerns.

The men's tour states it does not take the concerns of the players "casually," while the women's tour asserts player welfare will "consistently be the foremost concern."

That failed to satisfy the PTPA, which commenced proceedings against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "unfair practices and a clear neglect of athlete well-being."

Revamping the calendar is an obvious solution but cannot be implemented readily given the complicated structure 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 longer break, or can we buy time during the season so there is a mini-break," noted 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 reduced the number of events which factor into the rankings for 2026, which it is confident will reduce "the cumulative strain" on the players.

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

"This level of choice is unusual in pro sports. But with that comes obligation - recognizing the right time to play and the right time to heal."

Prolonging several compulsory competitions across a fortnight - creating so-called 'extended events' - has also been questioned.

"I believe competitors are more worn out mentally and physically because they're spending more days away," said Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

As well as mental burnout, there are apprehensions about the growing physical demands.

Players experience a higher rate of upper-body injuries in particular times of the year, according to player association statistics.

The organization says these "anticipated spikes" are down to the seasonal itinerary and the switches in court surfaces.

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a memorable contest at the Australian Open ended in the wee hours in 2023, it seemed set to trigger adjustments.

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

But there have still been instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

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

"You have to do media, recover, work with the physiotherapist. Your day doesn't end at midnight.

"The physical and neurological systems lack adequate time to recuperate. There is no other sport which mandates that."

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

"I've had a lot of injuries in my arm, my shoulder, my wrist," 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 persistent wrist issue, argues tournaments in the same seasonal segment should use one uniform ball.

"This should be a straightforward solution - 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 adopted a more standardized equipment policy during 2025 and project "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Learn from NFL & Protect Young Players

Athletic performance experts believe tennis must learn from how American team sports use data to guide the health of its stars.

Following data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and improved 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 maintaining a healthy roster.

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

Other leagues have implemented policies aimed at protecting specific positions, limiting their workload 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 significant factor 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 growing group of players are becoming vocal about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a group of stars applying force on the Grand Slams with calls for a increased portion of tournament income, as well as meaningful consultation about the calendar extent, longer competitions and scheduling.

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

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players also participate in lucrative showcase matches.

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

"{Uniform