Tennis: Exhausting Calendar? Players Call for More Rest and Changes

The Marathon Tennis Season: Too Long?

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. However, the start of the 2025 season arrived quickly, with the United Cup in Australia on December 27th. This tight schedule has generated debate about the duration and intensity of the professional circuit.

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

Jordan Thompson, US Open 2024 doubles champion

The short break between events has been a recurring theme among tennis players. The Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup, for example, had a separation of just over a month with the United Cup. The WTA and ATP Finals were held in mid-November. The extension of the season and the global nature of the circuit have generated complaints among the players. Alex de Minaur attributed his early exit from the French Open to “exhaustion.” Iga Swiatek criticized the intensity of the calendar, and several tennis players, such as Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina, ended the season early due to injuries and mental fatigue.

Daria Kasatkina

Daria Kasatkina expressed on social media her exhaustion and the need for a break. The Russian tennis player mentioned the monotony of life on the circuit, the suitcases, the results, and the pressure as factors that led her to a breaking point. In the same vein, she pointed out that the schedule is too demanding, both mentally and emotionally.

Taylor Fritz, who had a remarkable season in 2024, with quarter-finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and a final at the US Open, has also expressed his concern. Fritz highlighted the lack of rest time for elite players, who, due to their successes, see their season extended with events like the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup. Fritz pointed out that, in his case, he had only three weeks between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season. The American tennis player emphasized the need for training during the preseason, which further limits the rest time. Novak Djokovic, for his part, chose to only play the most important events this summer, prioritizing winning his 25th Grand Slam title and spending time with his family. However, Djokovic is in a privileged position in terms of ranking and finances, which allows him to make different decisions. Players are required to participate in a specific number of tournaments each year. ATP players must play in the four Grand Slams, eight Masters 1000 events, and five 500-level tournaments. WTA players must participate in the Grand Slams and ten 1000-level tournaments and six 500-level tournaments. Failure to meet these requirements may result in the loss of ranking points. Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys lost points at the end of the 2024 season for not meeting participation requirements. Swiatek, who was number 1 at the time, fell to number 2. Swiatek has criticized the schedule, indicating that she will be forced to skip mandatory tournaments due to the impossibility of fulfilling the demanding program. Gauff has also expressed her disagreement with the participation requirements, arguing that it is “impossible” to meet all the demands in a year.

The WTA and other organizations have justified the extension of the 1000-level tournaments as a measure to ensure equal prize money with men. At the Shanghai Masters, several players complained about the heat and humidity, and felt exhausted by the long season. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew before starting the tournament due to an injury, while Jannik Sinner retired from his third-round match due to cramps.

Jessica Pegula

The ATP announced the addition of a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia starting in 2028, which will increase the total number to ten, nine of them mandatory. The French Open, the Australian Open, and the US Open have added an extra day of play to their main draws. Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, believes players should be less “paranoid” about losing ranking points and skip tournaments when they need a rest. He also criticized players who participate in lucrative exhibitions during the pre-season. Carlos Alcaraz, one of those who has most advocated for a shorter season, has participated in several exhibitions, but argues that they are different and less demanding formats than official tournaments.

Fritz believes there will be no changes to the schedule despite the players’ complaints. The current situation is delicate, and although the players and authorities seem to disagree, the need for change is evident. While the changes have been few, some modifications have been implemented. The Billie Jean King Cup final, which was played in November, was moved to September to give WTA players a break. However, the playoffs to determine the qualifying teams for the 2026 tournament will take place from November 14 to 16. More significant changes have been discussed, such as the proposal for a “Premier Tour” with an annual calendar that would include the Grand Slam tournaments and other events. However, the WTA and ATP failed to convince the Grand Slams of this idea. Andy Roddick suggested modifying the order of events in the second half of the season, suggesting that the 250-level tournaments be held after the World Tour finals. The WTA and ATP have acknowledged the players’ concerns and have stated that the well-being of the athletes is a priority. The WTA has introduced improvements to the season structure, increasing player compensation and adding more competitive opportunities. The ATP, for its part, seeks to extend the preseason. Djokovic, critical of the current calendar, believes that players should get more involved to achieve significant changes. The Serbian tennis player emphasizes the need for players to unite and understand how the system works in order to advocate for improvements.