The 2024 professional tennis season officially ended on December 22nd, when Joao Fonseca won the title at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia by defeating Learner Tien. However, the 2025 season was already underway on December 27th with the United Cup in Australia. Fonseca and Tien returned to the court on December 30th for tournaments in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively.
I don’t know how the ’25 season starts in ’24. It’s a joke.
Jordan Thompson
The short rest time between events has generated criticism about the physical and mental demands on the players. The situation is aggravated by the short time for rest, recovery, and preparation that professional tennis players have.
The length of the season and the itinerant nature of the circuit are common complaints among players, but they have intensified in recent years. Alex de Minaur attributed his early exit from the French Open to feeling “burned out.” Iga Swiatek criticized the demands of the “super intense” calendar.
Several players, such as Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina, ended their seasons early this year, citing injuries and mental fatigue. Kasatkina expressed on social media her exhaustion and the need for a break from the “monotonous daily routine” of the circuit.
The key question is whether there will be significant changes in the near future to address the duration and intensity of the tennis season.“I’ve reached a critical point and I can’t continue. I need a break”, wrote Daria Kasatkina in a social media post in October.
Taylor Fritz, who had a standout season in 2024, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching his first major final at the US Open, had little time to celebrate. His success extended his season, as he secured an invitation to the year-end ATP Finals and participated in the Davis Cup finals.
There is no off-season, and if you’re a top player, you actually have even less of an off-season.
Taylor Fritz
Fritz had only three weeks between the end of his 2024 season and the start of the 2025 campaign. He returned home at the end of November and had to travel to Australia on December 21st. Fritz emphasized the need to train during that time, downplaying rest.
For many players, the off-season is one of the few times they have to be at home, especially for Australians, who spend most of the year traveling. Thompson commented that, upon returning to Australia, he just wanted to rest, but had to keep training to stay in shape.Novak Djokovic, who only played the main events this summer, prioritizing winning his 25th Grand Slam title and spending time with his family, finds himself in an unusual position. He is not concerned about his ranking at this stage of his career and, with over $190 million in prize money earned on the court, finances are not a concern.
Tournaments require players to participate in a certain number of events each year, which generates additional pressure. Players who do not meet the minimum tournament requirements may lose ranking points, affecting players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Many top players have expressed concern about the impact of the length and requirements of the schedule. Swiatek, after a match shortened by injury at the China Open, blamed the schedule and suggested that she might have to “choose some tournaments and skip them, even if they are mandatory” in the future.
I think we have to be smart about it, not really, unfortunately, worry about the rules and just think about what is healthy for us.
Iga Swiatek
Swiatek played 80 matches, the most on the circuit this season. The WTA and other sports organizations have pointed to extended 1000-level tournaments as part of their strategy to ensure equal prize money in tournaments with their male counterparts.
Coco Gauff, although she doesn’t disagree with that argument, said it’s “impossible” to meet all the requirements in a given year.
The situation of the best players was evident at the Shanghai Masters in October, where many complained about the heat and humidity, and others felt the weight of the long season. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew before the tournament due to an injury, Jannik Sinner retired due to cramps, and Djokovic needed treatment for a back injury.The ATP announced the addition of another Masters 1000 level tournament to its calendar starting in 2028 in Saudi Arabia, which will raise the total to 10, with nine mandatory. Grand Slam tournaments have added an extra day of play, which has generated criticism.
I’m really not a fan.
Jessica Pegula
Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, believes that the discussion about the length of the season is not new. While he believes that the ATP and WTA should eliminate the “mandatory” designation of tournaments and ensure one or two weeks of rest after each Grand Slam, he also believes that players should be less “paranoid” regarding the loss of ranking points and skip tournaments when they feel they need a break.
Alcaraz, one of the advocates for a shorter season, participated in lucrative exhibitions, which drew criticism. Alcaraz argued that exhibitions are different from official tournaments, and that they are not as mentally demanding.Fritz, when asked what should be changed, replied that “it simply needs to be shortened. It’s too much.” He added that he didn’t think any changes were coming.
While players seem to agree that something must change, the details present a challenge. Eliminating existing tournaments could be difficult, as organizations and host cities pay licensing fees and sign multi-year agreements. Some changes have been implemented, such as moving the Billie Jean King Cup final to September.
In 2024, the four Grand Slams initiated initial conversations for a “Premier Tour”, with an annual calendar that would include the majors, approximately 10 additional events, and a year-end final. The WTA and ATP proposed a version similar to the Slams, but failed to convince them, partly due to the proposed structure of the board of directors.
Andy Roddick suggested rearranging the events on the autumn calendar to create more opportunities for players and allow the best players to play exhibitions without complaining about the length of the season.
The WTA, in a statement, highlighted that the well-being of the athletes is a “top priority” and that the organization remains in constant communication with the players. The ATP, for its part, noted that its goal is to “extend the off-season”, but that the calendar is complex due to the individual nature of tennis.
Djokovic, critical of the current situation, emphasized the need for players to unite and participate more to achieve significant changes.
