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When Daria Kasatkina concluded her 2025 season ahead of schedule in October, the ex-top ten player described how she had "encountered a barrier."

"The itinerary is excessive. My mental and emotional state is frayed, and, regrettably, I'm not alone," she wrote.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had previously announced she was not in "the psychological condition" to carry on, while current Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz furthermore believe the calendar is overly extended.

This subject continues to be debated as the world's foremost tennis players assemble once more in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A marginally increased off-season than 2025 has been received well. However, a few weeks is not regarded as adequate time for thorough rest before work commences for an season lasting nearly a year seen as among the most grueling in professional sport.

"The physical requirements of tennis are more intense than in the past," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, medical director at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"The duration of play has increased, players are faster, they're hitting the ball harder.

"It is our obligation to shield the competitors and give them a more sustainable sport."

So what measures are in place and what next actions could be taken?

Shortening the Season

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

The women's circuit ended two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships finished 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 the women's tour asserts player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not appease the PTPA, which commenced proceedings against the men's and women's tours in March, pointing to "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare."

Overhauling the calendar is an apparent fix but cannot be implemented readily given the complicated structure of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have significant influence.

"We need to think about whether we can reclaim 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 cut the number of events which are included in the rankings for 2026, which it believes will diminish "overall demands" on the players.

"One point that often gets overlooked: players choose their own schedules," commented ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"Such autonomy is uncommon in elite athletics. But with that comes obligation - knowing when to push and when to recover."

Prolonging several required events across a fortnight - creating so-called 'super weeks' - has also been criticized.

"In my view, athletes are more psychologically drained and exhausted because they're being on the road longer," said Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

In addition to mental burnout, there are apprehensions about the growing physical demands.

Players experience a higher rate of upper-body injuries in specific periods, according to PTPA research.

The organization says these "foreseeable patterns" are down to the structure of the calendar and the turnarounds between court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

When a high-profile game at the Australian Open finished in the wee hours in 2023, it was expected to drive reform.

In 2024, the tours implemented a new rule prohibiting matches beginning past 11pm.

But there have continued to be instances of matches concluding long after midnight - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

"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 finish until much later.

"The physical and neurological systems lack adequate time to recuperate. This is a unique demand in the sporting world."

The use of varying balls at different events - leading to changes in feel and performance - has been pointed to as a source of more frequent upper body injuries.

"My career has been plagued by injuries to the arm and wrist," said one top British player, "and such ailments are increasingly prevalent among peers."

A former US Open champion, who retired last year with an persistent wrist issue, thinks tournaments in the same swing should use one type of ball.

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

The tours began using a more unified ball-approval process during 2025 and anticipate "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Athletic performance experts believe tennis must learn from how American team sports use data to direct the welfare of its stars.

Based on data-led analysis, the NFL demanded consistent playing surfaces and advanced helmet technology to lessen 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 ensuring star athletes are available.

"They're putting their money where their mouth is by protecting athletes and investing hugely – that model is the benchmark."

Other leagues have introduced rules aimed at protecting pitchers, limiting their throws at the professional level and putting age restrictions.

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

"We pick up a racket as kids and have so many repetitions 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."

Athletes Are Pushing for Reform - What Are Their Demands?

An rising contingent of players are becoming vocal about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a collection of elite athletes ramping up pressure on the Grand Slams with calls for a larger share of revenue, as well as substantive discussions about the tour schedule duration, elongated tournaments and scheduling.

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

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players also participate in lucrative showcase matches.

One Grand Slam champion from Britain says the daily routine is a "difficulty" but thinks top players "moaning about the calendar" is not a good look.

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