🔗 Share this article

When Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season prematurely in October, the ex-top ten player explained how she had "encountered a barrier."

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

The Ukrainian athlete Elina Svitolina, a double Wimbledon semi-final participant, had previously revealed she was not in "the mental space" to continue, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz furthermore think the calendar is too long.

The topic remains under discussion as the world's top tennis players assemble once more in Australia for the start of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been greeted positively. However, several weeks is not considered sufficient time for proper rest before preparations begin for an 11-month campaign considered among the most grueling in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," stated 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 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 taken?

Shortening the Season

The 2025 season spanned 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 season finished two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships wrapped up in early November. The ITF 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 "without seriousness," while the women's tour asserts player welfare will "perpetually be the highest focus."

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

Restructuring the calendar is an clear answer 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 must consider whether we can reclaim time at the end of the year for an extended off season, or can we allow for a pause during the season so there is a short hiatus," added Dr. Sikka.

Former world number one Andy Roddick, a vocal proponent of reform, says the season should not go past 1 November.

The ATP Tour has decreased the number of events which are included in the rankings for 2026, which it believes will lessen "the total burden" on the players.

"A factor frequently ignored: players determine their own playing calendar," stated ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"Such autonomy is uncommon in elite athletics. But with that comes responsibility - understanding when to compete and when to rest."

Prolonging several mandatory tournaments across a fortnight - creating so-called 'extended events' - has also been faulted.

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

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

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

The organization says these "foreseeable patterns" are down to the structure of the calendar and the switches in court surfaces.

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a notable match at the Australian Open concluded in the middle of the night in 2023, it promised to spark change.

In 2024, the tours brought in a new rule preventing matches beginning past 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts argue must not be glorified.

"After a match concludes, an athlete's day isn't over," explained Dr. Sikka.

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

"Your body, brain and nerves don't have chance to recover. There is no other sport which mandates that."

The use of varying balls at different events - leading to changes in feel and performance - has been pointed to as a source of increased upper body injuries.

"My career has been plagued by injuries to the arm and wrist," commented one top British player, "and I'm seeing more and more of these injuries across the tours."

A former US Open champion, who retired last year with an persistent wrist issue, thinks tournaments in the same circuit should use one standard ball.

"It shouldn't be too difficult - 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 "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Learn from NFL & Protect Young Players

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 required consistent playing surfaces and advanced helmet technology to minimize the risk of injury.

"The NFL has made many rule changes based on empirical evidence," 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.

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

Other leagues have enacted regulations aimed at protecting throwers, limiting their throws at the professional level and putting age restrictions.

Some retired players believe the load put on the upper body of tennis players from a very early stage is a significant factor in their injuries later on.

"We pick up a racket as kids and have so many iterations 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."

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

An growing group of players are finding their voice about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a group of stars increasing demands on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as meaningful consultation 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 new season.

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players also participate in lucrative non-tour contests.

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

"{Uniform