Tennis Exhausted: Grueling Schedule and Challenges in the Professional Season

Professional Tennis: A Grueling Schedule and the Quest for Balance

The 2024 professional tennis season officially concluded on December 22nd, when Joao Fonseca claimed the title at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia, defeating Learner Tien. However, the 2025 season was already underway on December 27th with the United Cup in Australia. Fonseca and Tien competed again on December 30th in tournaments in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively.

I don’t know how the ’25 season starts in ’24. It’s a joke.

Jordan Thompson, US Open 2024 doubles champion

This short break, of just a few weeks before the Next Gen Finals, highlights the limited capacity for rest and preparation that professional tennis players have for a new season. Between the Billie Jean King Cup, the Davis Cup, the WTA Finals, and the ATP Finals, recovery time is minimal. The length of the season and the demand of traveling around the world have been a constant complaint among players, but this problem has intensified in recent years. Alex de Minaur attributed his early elimination at Roland Garros to feeling “exhausted”. Iga Swiatek criticized the intensity of the calendar, and in the China Open, several matches ended with retirements during the match. Players like Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina ended their seasons early due to injuries and mental fatigue. Kasatkina expressed on social media her exhaustion and the need for a break, highlighting the pressure and pace of life on the circuit. The 2025 season is nearing its end, and the conversation about the length and intensity of the tennis calendar will continue. The big question is: Will there be changes in the near future?

“I’ve hit a wall and can’t go on. I need a break,” wrote Daria Kasatkina in a social media post in October.

Taylor Fritz, who had an outstanding season in 2024, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, as well as winning ATP titles and an Olympic bronze medal, didn’t have time to celebrate. The demands of the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup extended his season, resulting in a short rest period before the 2025 campaign.

There is no preseason, and if you’re a top player, you actually have even less time off.

Taylor Fritz

Fritz pointed out that, due to the need to train during the “break”, he barely had a week of vacation. This period is crucial for implementing technical or team changes, but the lack of physical and mental rest is a problem. For some players, the preseason is the only opportunity to spend time at home, especially for Australians. Thompson emphasized the need to stay physically fit during that time, which further reduces rest time.

Novak Djokovic, who only played the main events this summer, has chosen to prioritize time with his family and is not concerned about his ranking at this stage of his career. However, tours require players to participate in a certain number of tournaments each year, which creates constant pressure. Players like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, among others, lost points at the end of 2024 for not meeting tournament participation requirements. This has led to complaints about the impact of the length and requirements of the calendar. Swiatek, after a match cut short due to injury at the China Open, criticized the schedule and suggested she might have to skip mandatory tournaments. Gauff, for her part, considers it impossible to meet all the requirements.

Swiatek played 80 matches, the most on the circuit. The WTA argues that extended 1000-level tournaments are necessary to ensure equal prize money. However, the reality is that the players are forced to compete in a very demanding schedule. In the Shanghai Masters, fatigue and heat affected several players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who withdrew due to injuries. Djokovic also suffered physical problems. The tournament highlighted the wear and tear of the season.

The ATP announced the addition of a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia starting in 2028, which will increase pressure on the calendar. The French Open, the Australian Open, and the US Open have added playing days, which has generated criticism.

I don’t understand why they had to make it even longer. Well, I know why they did it: they can sell tickets for an extra day.

Jessica Pegula

Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, suggests that the ATP and WTA should eliminate the obligation to participate in tournaments and allow players to take breaks when they need them. He also criticizes players who participate in lucrative exhibitions during the preseason. Alcaraz, despite being a proponent of a shorter season, participated in the Six Kings Slam and other exhibition events, arguing that they are different from official tournaments.

Fritz and other renowned players insist on the need to shorten the season, but recognize that change is difficult. The WTA and ATP are aware of the players’ concerns. The WTA has implemented improvements to the season structure, including an increase in compensation and more competitive opportunities. The ATP, for its part, seeks to extend the preseason. Djokovic, critical of the current calendar, emphasizes the need for players to get more involved to achieve significant changes.