'We Need to Protect Players' - How Can The Sport of Tennis Avoid Reaching a Breaking Point?

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

"The schedule is too much. Mentally and emotionally I'm at breaking point, and, unfortunately, I'm not alone," she expressed.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had earlier revealed she was not in "the mental space" to persist, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz furthermore are convinced the calendar is too long.

This subject continues to be debated as the world's foremost tennis players reconvene in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A marginally increased off-season than 2025 has been welcomed. Nevertheless, several weeks is not seen as adequate time for proper recovery before training starts for an 11-month campaign regarded as among the most onerous in professional sport.

"The physical requirements of tennis are more intense than in the past," 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.

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

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

Condensing the Tour Schedule

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

The WTA Tour season concluded two weeks earlier when the tour finals finished in early November. The ITF moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to alleviate scheduling concerns.

ATP officials claim it does not take the concerns of the players "lightly," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "consistently be the foremost concern."

That did not appease the PTPA, which commenced proceedings against the men's and women's tours in March, pointing to "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare."

Revamping the calendar is an apparent fix but cannot be accomplished simply given the complicated structure of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have major stakes.

"We must consider whether we can buy back time at the end of the year for an longer break, or can we create space during the season so there is a brief respite," 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 decreased the number of events which count towards the rankings for 2026, which it believes will reduce "the total burden" on the players.

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

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

Prolonging several mandatory tournaments across a fortnight - creating so-called 'super weeks' - has also been criticized.

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

Alongside mental burnout, there are worries about the rising physical demands.

Players are more prone to upper-body injuries in certain months, according to PTPA research.

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

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a notable match at the Australian Open ended in the early hours in 2023, it seemed set to trigger adjustments.

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

But there have still been instances of matches finishing well past midnight - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

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

"There are press obligations, recovery sessions, and physio appointments. Your day doesn't end at midnight.

"There is insufficient opportunity for the body and mind to heal. No other major sport imposes such conditions."

A lack of standardization in tournament equipment - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been cited 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 I'm seeing more and more of these injuries across the tours."

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

"This should be a straightforward solution - the same ball for clay, the same for hard and the same for grass. That would be really helpful to the players," he said.

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

Emulate American Sports & Safeguard Juniors

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

Using data-led analysis, the NFL demanded consistent playing surfaces and improved helmet technology to minimize 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 ensuring star athletes are available.

"Their financial commitment matches their rhetoric by protecting athletes and investing hugely – that model is the exemplar."

Other leagues have implemented policies aimed at protecting specific positions, limiting their throws at the professional level and putting age restrictions.

Some retired players believe the stress put on the upper body of tennis players from a tender age is a key element 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 increasing number of players are becoming vocal about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a collection of elite athletes increasing demands on the Grand Slams with calls for a increased portion of tournament income, as well as substantive discussions about the calendar extent, longer competitions and scheduling.

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

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players sometimes commit to lucrative non-tour contests.

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

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