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After Daria Kasatkina cut short her 2025 season prematurely in October, the one-time elite competitor described how she had "encountered a barrier."

"The calendar is overwhelming. Mentally and emotionally I'm at breaking point, and, unfortunately, I'm not alone," she wrote.

The Ukrainian athlete Elina Svitolina, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had previously declared she was not in "the psychological condition" to continue, while current Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz furthermore think the calendar is too long.

This subject remains under discussion as the world's foremost tennis players assemble once more in Australia for the start of the 2026 season.

A slightly longer off-season than 2025 has been received well. Nonetheless, several weeks is not considered adequate time for proper recuperation before training starts for an 11-month campaign seen as among the most onerous in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," said Dr. Robby Sikka, chief medical officer at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"Points and games are more extended, players are faster, they're hitting the ball harder.

"We have a duty to safeguard our athletes and give them a more viable sport."

So what measures are in place and what additional measures could be taken?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season spanned 47 weeks for many players on the ATP circuit, commencing with the United Cup team event in late December 2024 and ending with the Davis Cup final in late November.

The women's season concluded two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships concluded in early November. The International Tennis Federation moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to alleviate scheduling concerns.

The ATP Tour says it does not take the concerns of the players "without seriousness," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "perpetually be the highest focus."

That did not appease the PTPA, which initiated a lawsuit against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "unfair practices and a clear neglect of athlete well-being."

Restructuring the calendar is an clear answer but cannot be implemented readily given the complex nature of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have controlling interests.

"We must consider whether we can buy back time at the end of the year for an longer break, or can we allow for a pause during the season so there is a brief respite," added Dr. Sikka.

Former world number one Andy Roddick, a consistent campaigner for adjustments, says the season should not go past 1 November.

The ATP Tour has decreased the number of events which factor into the rankings for 2026, which it believes will lessen "the total burden" on the players.

"A factor frequently ignored: players determine their own playing calendar," stated ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes responsibility - understanding when to compete and when to rest."

Stretching several mandatory tournaments across a fortnight - creating so-called 'extended events' - has also been criticized.

"I believe competitors are more worn out mentally and physically because they're away from home for extended periods," stated Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

Alongside mental burnout, there are apprehensions about the increased physical demands.

Players are more prone to upper-body injuries in certain months, according to player association statistics.

The organization says these "foreseeable patterns" are down to the tour schedule layout and the turnarounds between court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

When a high-profile game at the Australian Open finished in the early hours in 2023, it promised to spark change.

In 2024, the tours brought in a new rule prohibiting matches commencing later than 11pm.

But there have persisted instances of matches concluding long after midnight - which medical experts argue must not be glorified.

"After a match concludes, an athlete's day isn't over," explained Dr. Sikka.

"Media interviews, rehabilitation, and treatment are required. Your day doesn't end at midnight.

"The physical and neurological systems lack adequate time to recuperate. No other major sport imposes such conditions."

Different tournaments playing with different balls - leading to changes in weight and pace - has been cited as a source of more frequent upper body injuries.

"I have suffered numerous arm, shoulder, and wrist issues," commented one top British player, "and I'm seeing more and more of these injuries across the tours."

A former US Open champion, who retired last year with an persistent wrist issue, believes tournaments in the same circuit should use one standard ball.

"This should be a straightforward solution - the same ball for clay, the same for hard and the same for grass. That would be extremely beneficial to the players," he said.

The tours began using a more standardized equipment policy during 2025 and project "total consistency" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Medical researchers believe tennis must take cues from how American team sports use data to direct the welfare of its stars.

Based on data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and enhanced helmet technology to reduce the risk of injury.

"The NFL has made many rule changes based on empirical evidence," said an analytics expert whose firm provides data to monitor player welfare.

"The financial returns have increased dramatically because their games are so competitive and they're maintaining a healthy roster.

"Their financial commitment matches their rhetoric by protecting athletes and allocating major funds – that model is the gold standard."

Other leagues have enacted regulations aimed at protecting specific positions, limiting their workload at the professional level and putting limits for young players.

Some retired players believe the strain put on the upper body of tennis players from a tender age is a significant factor in their injuries later on.

"Training begins in childhood and have so many iterations of our groundstrokes," said the former champion.

"At some point it goes on the wrist. Way more players have problems with the wrist. I think the problem is the many, many repetitions."

Players 'Motivated' for Change - What Do They Want?

An increasing number of players are speaking out about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a group of stars ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as substantive discussions about the tour schedule duration, elongated tournaments and match timing.

Last year, a top-ten American player said it was "absurd" he was only able to take one week off before the new season.

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players sometimes commit to lucrative exhibition events.

One Grand Slam champion from Britain says the grind is a "challenge" but thinks top players "criticizing the calendar" is not a good look.

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