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

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

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, a former Wimbledon final four contender, had earlier declared she was not in "the mental space" to carry on, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz additionally think the calendar is too long.

The topic remains under discussion as the world's top tennis players reconvene in Australia for the commencement of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been received well. Nevertheless, several weeks is not regarded as adequate time for thorough rest before work commences for an 11-month campaign seen as among the most grueling in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," stated Dr. Robby Sikka, medical director 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 viable sport."

So what is being done and what additional measures could be implemented?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season covered 47 weeks for many men on tour, starting with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and finishing with the Davis Cup final in late November.

The women's circuit concluded two weeks earlier when the tour finals finished in early November. The International Tennis Federation 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 "without seriousness," while the WTA Tour says player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That failed to satisfy the PTPA, which began legal action against the men's and women's tours in March, citing "restrictive policies and an obvious indifference to player health."

Restructuring the calendar is an clear answer 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 reclaim time at the end of the year for an extended off season, or can we create space during the season so there is a brief respite," 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 reduced the number of events which factor into the rankings for 2026, which it believes will reduce "the total burden" on the players.

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

"Such autonomy is uncommon in elite athletics. But with that comes obligation - knowing when to push and when to recover."

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

"I think players are more mentally tired and more fatigued because they're spending more days away," opined Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

As well as mental burnout, there are concerns about the rising 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 structure of the calendar and the transitions between court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

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

In 2024, the tours implemented a new rule preventing matches commencing later than 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts insist.

"Once the final point is played, a player's duties continue," added Dr. Sikka.

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

"Your body, brain and nerves don't have chance to recover. No other major sport imposes such conditions."

Different tournaments playing with different balls - leading to changes in weight and pace - has been cited as a source of a rise in 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 chronic wrist problem, argues tournaments in the same seasonal segment should use one uniform 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 began using a more unified ball-approval process during 2025 and expect "total consistency" in the coming years.

Learn from NFL & Protect Young Players

Sports scientists believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to guide the wellbeing 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.

"The financial returns have increased dramatically 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 investing hugely – that model is the benchmark."

Other leagues have introduced rules aimed at protecting specific positions, limiting their exertion at the professional level and putting guidelines for juniors.

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

"We start playing from such an early age and have so many repetitions 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 speaking out 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 bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as meaningful consultation about the length of the season, elongated tournaments and scheduling.

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

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 "test" but thinks top players "criticizing the calendar" is not a good look.

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