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After Daria Kasatkina cut short her 2025 season early in October, the ex-top ten player described how she had "hit a wall."

"The itinerary is excessive. Psychologically and emotionally, I am drained, and, regrettably, I'm not alone," she wrote.

The Ukrainian athlete Elina Svitolina, a former Wimbledon final four contender, had already declared she was not in "the psychological condition" to carry on, while sitting Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz also are convinced the calendar is too long.

This subject continues to be debated as the world's foremost tennis players reconvene in Australia for the commencement of the 2026 season.

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

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, chief medical officer 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 manageable sport."

So what is being done and what next actions could be implemented?

Shortening the Season

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

The women's circuit concluded two weeks earlier when the season-ending championships wrapped up in early November. The governing body moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to help combat scheduling concerns.

The ATP Tour says it does not take the concerns of the players "casually," while WTA leadership notes player welfare will "always remain a top priority."

That did not placate the PTPA, which began legal action against the men's and women's tours in March, citing "unfair practices and a clear neglect of athlete well-being."

Overhauling the calendar is an clear answer but cannot be achieved easily given the complex nature of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have significant influence.

"We must consider whether we can reclaim time at the end of the year for an longer break, or can we create space during the season so there is a mini-break," 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 count towards the rankings for 2026, which it is confident will lessen "the cumulative strain" on the players.

"An aspect commonly missed: players select their own tournament plans," commented ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

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

Prolonging several compulsory competitions across a fortnight - creating so-called 'extended events' - has also been questioned.

"I think players are more mentally tired and more fatigued because they're being on the road longer," stated Britain's former men's world number one, Andy Murray.

Alongside mental burnout, there are worries about the rising physical demands.

Players are more prone to upper-body injuries in certain months, according to PTPA research.

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

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a notable match at the Australian Open finished in the early hours in 2023, it was expected to drive reform.

In 2024, the tours implemented a new rule stopping matches starting after 11pm.

But there have persisted instances of matches ending deep into the night - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

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

"Media interviews, rehabilitation, and treatment are required. 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."

Different tournaments playing with different balls - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been pointed to 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'm seeing more and more of these injuries across the tours."

A former US Open champion, who ended his career last year with an persistent wrist issue, 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 moved towards a more centralized ball-selection system during 2025 and anticipate "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

Sports scientists believe tennis must emulate how American team sports use data to guide the health of its stars.

Based on data-led analysis, the NFL required consistent playing surfaces and improved 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.

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

Other leagues have enacted regulations aimed at protecting throwers, limiting their throws at the professional level and putting guidelines for juniors.

Some retired players believe the load put on the upper body of tennis players from a very early stage is a major contributor in their injuries later on.

"We pick up a racket as kids and have so many repetitions of our groundstrokes," said the former champion.

"Eventually, the wrist bears the brunt. 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 increasing number of players are finding their voice 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 bigger piece of the financial pie, 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.

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players also participate in lucrative showcase matches.

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

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