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When Daria Kasatkina cut short her 2025 season prematurely in October, the one-time elite competitor described how she had "reached her limit."

"The schedule is too much. My mental and emotional state is frayed, and, regrettably, I'm not alone," she stated.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, a former Wimbledon final four contender, had previously revealed she was not in "the psychological condition" to carry on, while sitting Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also think the calendar is excessively lengthy.

This subject remains under discussion as the world's top tennis players reconvene in Australia for the start of the 2026 season.

A marginally increased off-season than 2025 has been greeted positively. However, a handful of weeks is not seen as adequate time for thorough rest before preparations begin for an eleven-month schedule considered among the most onerous 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 actions are being taken and what next actions could be implemented?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season lasted 47 weeks for many players on the ATP circuit, starting with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and concluding with the Davis Cup final in late November.

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

The ATP Tour says it does not take the concerns of the players "without seriousness," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not appease 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 clear answer but cannot be achieved easily 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 more substantial rest period, or can we allow for a pause during the season so there is a mini-break," 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 thinks will lessen "overall demands" on the players.

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

"This level of choice is unusual in pro sports. But with that comes accountability - knowing when to push and when to recover."

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

"I think players are more mentally tired and more fatigued because they're away from home for extended periods," stated Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

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

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

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

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a memorable contest at the Australian Open finished in the middle of the night in 2023, it promised to spark change.

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

But there have still been instances of matches concluding long after midnight - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

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

"There are press obligations, recovery sessions, and physio appointments. Your day doesn't finish until much later.

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

The use of varying balls at different events - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been identified 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 persistent wrist issue, thinks tournaments in the same circuit should use one type of 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 began using a more standardized equipment policy during 2025 and expect "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Emulate American Sports & Safeguard Juniors

Sports scientists believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to direct the health of its stars.

Using data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and improved 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.

"They are investing heavily in their stated goals by protecting athletes and investing hugely – that model is the exemplar."

Other leagues have enacted regulations aimed at protecting pitchers, limiting their exertion at the professional level and putting guidelines for juniors.

Some retired players believe the load 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 countless swings of our groundstrokes," said the former champion.

"Eventually, the wrist bears the brunt. 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 group of stars ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as meaningful consultation about the tour schedule duration, 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.

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players also participate in lucrative non-tour contests.

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

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