Tennis: Exhausting Schedule? Players Call for Season Changes

The Exhausting Professional Tennis Season: An Unsustainable Calendar?

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. The 2025 season was already underway on December 27th with the United Cup in Australia. The physical and mental demands faced by professional tennis players are increasing, and the length of the season is a constant topic of debate.

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

Jordan Thompson

The short break between tournaments, as evidenced by the rapid shift from the Next Gen Finals to the start-of-season events, highlights the lack of recovery time for players. The short time between the Billie Jean King Cup, the Davis Cup, and the United Cup, along with the WTA Finals and ATP Finals in mid-November, exacerbates the situation. This problem has generated complaints among the players, who denounce physical and mental exhaustion. Several tennis players, including Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper, and Daria Kasatkina, ended their seasons early due to injuries and mental fatigue. Kasatkina expressed her exhaustion on social media, pointing to the “monotonous routine” and constant pressure as determining factors.

Taylor Fritz, after a remarkable season in 2024, with quarter-finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, found himself with little rest due to his success. Fritz highlighted the lack of a real pre-season for elite players, who must train during that short period, limiting their rest time to one week a year. Australian tennis player Jordan Thompson also emphasized the importance of time at home and the need to maintain physical fitness during the preseason, which further reduces actual rest time.

Novak Djokovic, who prioritized major events and time with his family, offers a different perspective. However, his position is atypical, given his career and financial situation. The requirement to participate in a specific number of tournaments each year, both on the ATP and WTA circuits, forces players to compete constantly. Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, among others, have expressed their concern about the intense schedule and the difficulty of meeting participation requirements. Swiatek criticized the mandatory WTA rules, suggesting that it is “impossible” for elite players to fulfill all commitments.

The WTA, like other organizations, has justified the extension of the 1000-level tournaments as a measure to equalize the economic prizes with the men’s events. However, Gauff and Swiatek have pointed out that it is complicated to meet all the demands, which affects the health of the players. The Shanghai Masters highlighted the physical wear and tear on the players, with withdrawals due to injuries and health problems. The proposal to add a new Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia, starting in 2028, and the expansion of playing days in the Grand Slams have generated more debate about the length of the season.

I don’t think they’re listening to us. I think you have me, Carlos and Sasha [Zverev], I mean, three of the top four players in the world saying that it just needs to be shortened, and there’s really been no conversation about the change.

Taylor Fritz

Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, suggests that players should be less “paranoid” about losing ranking points and take breaks when they need them. At the same time, he criticizes those who participate in lucrative exhibitions during the pre-season. Carlos Alcaraz, one of those who advocates for a shorter season, justifies his participation in exhibitions as a form of fun and mental rest.

Despite growing player concerns, changes to the calendar are scarce. The Billie Jean King Cup was moved to September to give WTA players more rest time. However, proposals to restructure the circuit, such as the idea of a “Premier Tour”, have not achieved the necessary consensus. Andy Roddick suggests reorganizing the calendar to give players more opportunities and allow them to take breaks without affecting their ranking. The WTA and ATP ensure that the health and well-being of athletes are a priority. The WTA has implemented changes to increase player compensation and create more competitive opportunities. The ATP, for its part, seeks to extend the preseason. Djokovic, who has been a constant critic of the calendar, emphasizes the need for players to get more involved in the system and work together to achieve significant changes.