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After Daria Kasatkina ended her 2025 season ahead of schedule in October, the former world number eight explained how she had "encountered a barrier."

"The itinerary is excessive. Mentally and emotionally I'm at breaking point, and, sadly, I'm not alone," she stated.

The Ukrainian athlete Elina Svitolina, a former Wimbledon final four contender, had previously revealed she was not in "the mental space" to continue, while sitting Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz additionally think the calendar is excessively lengthy.

The topic remains under discussion as the world's top tennis players gather again in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been welcomed. Nevertheless, a few weeks is not regarded as enough time for proper recovery before training starts for an 11-month campaign regarded as among the most demanding in professional sport.

"The physical requirements of tennis are more intense than in the past," 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.

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

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

Shortening the Season

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

The women's season finished two weeks earlier when the tour finals finished in early November. The ITF moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to help combat scheduling concerns.

ATP officials claim it does not take the concerns of the players "casually," while the women's tour asserts player welfare will "consistently be the foremost concern."

That did not placate the PTPA, which commenced proceedings against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "restrictive policies and an obvious indifference to player health."

Restructuring the calendar is an apparent fix but cannot be achieved easily 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 more substantial rest period, or can we allow for a pause during the season so there is a short hiatus," noted 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 count towards the rankings for 2026, which it thinks will diminish "the cumulative strain" on the players.

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

"Such autonomy is uncommon in elite athletics. But with that comes accountability - recognizing the right time to play and the right time to heal."

Stretching several compulsory competitions across a fortnight - creating so-called 'mini Slams' - has also been questioned.

"I think players are more mentally tired and more fatigued because they're spending more days away," stated Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

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

Players experience a higher rate of upper-body injuries in particular times of the year, according to PTPA research.

The organization says these "predictable clusters" are down to the seasonal itinerary and the switches in court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

When a memorable contest at the Australian Open ended in the middle of the night in 2023, it seemed set to trigger adjustments.

In 2024, the tours introduced a new rule stopping matches beginning past 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts argue must not be glorified.

"When you are done playing you just don't go home," explained Dr. Sikka.

"There are press obligations, recovery sessions, and physio appointments. Your day doesn't end at midnight.

"Your body, brain and nerves don't have chance to recover. No other major sport imposes such conditions."

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

"I've had a lot of injuries in my arm, my shoulder, my wrist," said one top British player, "and I observe these types of injuries becoming more common."

A former US Open champion, who ended his career last year with an chronic wrist problem, argues tournaments in the same swing should use one uniform 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 adopted a more standardized equipment policy during 2025 and project "full alignment" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Medical researchers believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to inform the health of its stars.

Following data-led analysis, the NFL required consistent playing surfaces and enhanced helmet technology to minimize the risk of injury.

"The league has altered its regulations using concrete research," 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 gold standard."

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 load put on the upper body of tennis players from a very early stage is a significant factor 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."

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

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 increasing demands on the Grand Slams with calls for a larger share of revenue, as well as meaningful consultation about the length of the season, longer competitions 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.

Sympathy can be in short supply, though, given top players occasionally sign up for lucrative non-tour contests.

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

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