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

"The calendar is overwhelming. My mental and emotional state is frayed, and, unfortunately, I'm not alone," she stated.

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

This issue remains under discussion as the world's foremost tennis players gather again in Australia for the commencement of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been received well. Nonetheless, a few weeks is not considered sufficient time for proper recovery before preparations begin 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, chief medical officer at the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

"Matches and rallies are longer, players are faster, they're hitting the ball harder.

"We owe it to our players to protect them and give them a more viable sport."

So what is being done and what further steps could be enacted?

Reducing the Calendar Length

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

The women's circuit concluded two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships finished in early November. The ITF moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to address scheduling concerns.

The men's tour states it does not take the concerns of the players "without seriousness," while the women's tour asserts player welfare will "consistently be the foremost concern."

That failed to satisfy 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 accomplished simply given the complex nature of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have controlling interests.

"We need to think about whether we can buy back time at the end of the year for an longer break, or can we buy time during the season so there is a brief respite," 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 are included in the rankings for 2026, which it is confident will lessen "the total burden" on the players.

"One point that often gets overlooked: players select their own tournament plans," remarked ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

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

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

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

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

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

The organization says these "anticipated spikes" are down to the seasonal itinerary and the turnarounds between court surfaces.

Fewer Late Nights & More Ball Consistency

When a notable match at the Australian Open finished in the wee hours in 2023, it promised to spark change.

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

But there have continued to be instances of matches finishing well past midnight - which medical experts insist.

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

"There are press obligations, recovery sessions, and physio appointments. Your day extends well beyond the match.

"There is insufficient opportunity for the body and mind to heal. This is a unique demand in the sporting world."

The use of varying balls at different events - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been cited 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 ended his career last year with an chronic wrist problem, thinks tournaments in the same swing should use one type of ball.

"Implementing this would not be overly complex - 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 standardized equipment policy during 2025 and project "full alignment" in the coming years.

Emulate American Sports & Safeguard Juniors

Athletic performance experts believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to direct the wellbeing of its stars.

Using data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and advanced helmet technology to minimize the risk of injury.

"American football has implemented numerous reforms driven by data," said an analytics expert whose firm provides data to monitor player welfare.

"We've seen the economic model is skyrocketing because their games are so competitive and they're maintaining a healthy roster.

"Their financial commitment matches their rhetoric by protecting athletes and devoting significant resources – that model is the exemplar."

Other leagues have implemented policies aimed at protecting throwers, limiting their exertion 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 very early stage is a key element in their injuries later on.

"We start playing from such an early age and have so many countless swings 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 finding their voice about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a coalition of top players applying force on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as genuine dialogue about the calendar extent, extended events and fixture planning.

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

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players sometimes commit to lucrative non-tour contests.

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

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