Grueling Tennis: How to Fix the ATP/WTA Calendar and Burnout?

Professional Tennis: A Grueling Schedule and the Quest for Balance

The 2024 professional tennis season officially ended on December 22nd, with Joao Fonseca’s victory over Learner Tien at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia. However, the 2025 season began on December 27th with the United Cup in Australia, demonstrating the short rest window that players have.

“I don’t know how the ’25 season starts in ’24. It’s a joke,” commented Jordan Thompson, 2024 US Open doubles champion.

Jordan Thompson

The demanding schedule of professional tennis, with almost uninterrupted tournaments, has been a constant complaint among players. Physical and mental exhaustion has intensified in recent years, with figures like Alex de Minaur and Iga Swiatek expressing their frustration. Several tennis players, including Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina, ended their seasons early due to injuries and mental fatigue.

“The truth is that I’ve reached a breaking point and I can’t continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily routine of life on the circuit, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that this life entails,” Kasatkina declared on social media.

Daria Kasatkina

The key question is whether there will be significant changes in the near future to alleviate the pressure on the players.

Taylor Fritz, who had an outstanding season in 2024, reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open and achieving a new ranking, also experienced a lack of rest time. Fritz pointed out that, due to his success, his season was extended, leaving him only three weeks between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season.

“There is no off-season, and if you’re a top player, you actually have even less of an off-season,” Fritz stated.

Taylor Fritz

For many players, this short period is crucial for training and making technical or team changes. The lack of rest time poses a dilemma about the priority of physical recovery after a demanding season.

The situation of Novak Djokovic, who chose to play only the most important tournaments and prioritize time with his family, offers a different perspective. However, most players must comply with a minimum number of mandatory tournaments, which limits their rest options. Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and other elite tennis players lost points at the end of 2024 for not participating in the required number of tournaments, highlighting the challenge of meeting the demands of the calendar.

“I think we have to be smart about it, not worry about the rules and just think about what’s healthy for us,” Swiatek stated.

Iga Swiatek

The WTA and other sports organizations have justified the extension of 1000-level tournaments as a way to ensure equal prize money. Gauff, although not disagreeing with that argument, considers it “impossible” to meet all the requirements in a year. The Shanghai Masters in October highlighted the impact of the schedule on the players. Alcaraz withdrew due to an injury, Sinner retired due to cramps, and Djokovic needed treatment for a back problem, underscoring the physical and mental demands of the season.

The ATP announced the incorporation of a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia for 2028, which will increase the pressure on an already saturated calendar. The Grand Slams have also expanded their tournaments, generating criticism from the players.

“I’m not a big fan of that,” Jessica Pegula commented on the US Open extension.

Jessica Pegula

Brad Stine, Tommy Paul’s coach, suggests that players could be less “paranoid” about losing points and take more breaks when they need them. However, he also criticizes players who participate in lucrative exhibitions during the off-season, contradicting his own complaints.

“There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of players looking to play in those events,” Stine said.

Brad Stine

Alcaraz, despite being a proponent of a shorter season, participated in the Six Kings Slam in October, minimizing the comparison with official tournaments.

Fritz, like Alcaraz and Zverev, advocates for a reduction in the season, but acknowledges the difficulty of implementing significant changes. Although drastic changes seem unlikely, some modifications have been implemented. The Billie Jean King Cup final was moved to September and the Davis Cup maintained its original date. In 2024, there were initial conversations about a “Premier Tour”, but the proposal did not succeed.

Andy Roddick suggested rearranging the end-of-season tournaments, allowing the 250-level events to take place after the World Tour finals. The WTA and ATP assure that the health of the athletes is a priority and are in constant communication with the players. The ATP, for its part, seeks to extend the off-season, although it recognizes the complexity of the calendar and the diversity of the players’ needs.

Djokovic, critical of the current calendar for more than 15 years, emphasizes the need for greater unity and participation from the players to achieve significant changes.