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When Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season ahead of schedule in October, the former world number eight explained how she had "reached her limit."

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

The Ukrainian athlete Elina Svitolina, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had already revealed she was not in "the mental space" to continue, while current Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also are convinced the calendar is overly extended.

The topic continues to be debated as the world's top tennis players gather again in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A slightly longer off-season than 2025 has been welcomed. However, several weeks is not regarded as adequate time for proper rest before training starts for an 11-month campaign considered among the most onerous in professional sport.

"The physical requirements of tennis are more intense than in the past," stated 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 have a duty to safeguard our athletes 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 spanned 47 weeks for many players on the ATP circuit, beginning with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and concluding 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 International Tennis Federation 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 "casually," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not placate the PTPA, which began legal action against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "unfair practices and a clear neglect of athlete well-being."

Overhauling the calendar is an apparent fix but cannot be accomplished simply given the intricate web 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 longer break, or can we allow for a pause 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 decreased the number of events which are included in the rankings for 2026, which it is confident will diminish "the total burden" on the players.

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

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes accountability - recognizing the right time to play and the right time to heal."

Prolonging several required events across a fortnight - creating so-called 'mini Slams' - has also been questioned.

"I believe competitors are more worn out mentally and physically because they're being on the road longer," 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 particular times of the year, according to available data.

The organization says these "predictable clusters" are down to the tour schedule layout and the transitions between court surfaces.

Minimizing Midnight Matches & Uniform Balls

When a high-profile game at the Australian Open concluded in the wee hours in 2023, it promised to spark change.

In 2024, the tours introduced a new rule prohibiting matches starting after 11pm.

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

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

"Media interviews, rehabilitation, and treatment are required. 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."

Different tournaments playing with different balls - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been cited as a source of increased upper body injuries.

"I've had a lot of injuries in my arm, my shoulder, my wrist," stated one top British player, "and I observe these types of injuries becoming more common."

A former US Open champion, who ended his career last year with an ongoing wrist injury, believes tournaments in the same seasonal segment 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 incredibly useful to the players," he said.

The tours began using a more unified ball-approval process during 2025 and anticipate "full alignment" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Sports scientists believe tennis must take cues from how American team sports use data to inform the welfare of its stars.

Based on data-led analysis, the NFL required consistent playing surfaces and enhanced helmet technology to minimize the risk of injury.

"The league has altered its regulations using concrete research," 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 keeping players out on the field.

"They are investing heavily in their stated goals by protecting athletes and devoting significant resources – that model is the gold standard."

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 very early stage is a major contributor in their injuries later on.

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

"At some point it goes on the wrist. 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 finding their voice about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a coalition of top players ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a increased portion of tournament income, as well as substantive discussions about the tour schedule duration, elongated tournaments and scheduling.

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

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players sometimes commit to lucrative exhibition events.

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

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