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 2025 season was already underway on December 27th with the United Cup in Australia. This tight schedule has sparked a debate about the length and intensity of the tennis calendar.
The proximity of both seasons, with Fonseca and Learner Tien competing again on December 30 in tournaments in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively, underscores the scarcity of rest and preparation time that professional tennis 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 tennis season, with its relentless schedule and constant travel, has been the subject of criticism from players. Alex de Miñaur attributed his early exit from the French Open to feeling “exhausted.” Iga Swiatek criticized the intensity of the schedule, and several players, such as Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina, ended their seasons early due to injuries and mental fatigue.
Kasatkina expressed her exhaustion, highlighting the need for a break from the “monotonous routine” and the constant pressure of the circuit. The key question is whether there will be significant changes in the near future.American tennis player Taylor Fritz had a standout season in 2024, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Despite his achievements, including two ATP titles and an Olympic bronze medal in doubles, he had little time to celebrate, as his successes prolonged his season due to his participation in the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.
“There is no off-season, and if you’re a top player, you actually have even less off-season,” explained Fritz.
Taylor Fritz
For Fritz, this meant only three weeks between the end of his 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season, a period in which he must also train and prepare physically.Novak Djokovic, for his part, prioritized the most important events, skipping some ATP tournaments to focus on winning his 25th Grand Slam title and spending time with his family. However, the demands of the circuit force players to participate in a specific number of tournaments each year.
The top-ranked players, such as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, lost points at the end of the 2024 season for not meeting participation requirements. Swiatek even dropped to second place in the rankings.
Swiatek, after a match cut short due to injury at the China Open, blamed the calendar and suggested that she might have to choose and skip mandatory tournaments in the future. Coco Gauff also expressed her disagreement with the demands, pointing out that it is “impossible” to meet all the requirements.The Shanghai Masters was an example of the difficulties faced by players, with withdrawals due to injuries and extreme weather conditions. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to injury, Jannik Sinner retired due to cramps, and Djokovic needed treatment for a back injury.The ATP announced the addition of a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia for 2028, which will increase the total number of tournaments in this category to ten. The Grand Slams have also added playing days, generating criticism among the players.
“I’m not really a fan,” said Jessica Pegula.
Jessica Pegula
Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, suggests that players could be less “paranoid” about losing points and take breaks when they need them. Alcaraz, advocating for a shorter season, has participated in exhibition events, which has drawn criticism.Fritz, like Alcaraz and Zverev, advocates for a shorter season, but the changes are complex due to tournament contracts and the need to maintain the calendar. The Billie Jean King Cup was moved to September to give WTA players more rest time, and broader proposals have been discussed, such as the creation of a “Premier Tour”.
Andy Roddick suggested rearranging the tournaments to give players more opportunities and prevent the season from extending too long. The WTA and ATP have stated that the well-being of the athletes is a priority and that they are in constant communication with the players.
In an interview, Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP president, called the calendar “complex” and mentioned the goal of “extending the off-season.” Djokovic, a long-time critic of the current calendar, emphasized the importance of players getting more involved and understanding how the system works to achieve significant changes.
