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

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

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a double Wimbledon semi-final participant, had earlier declared she was not in "the psychological condition" to persist, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz furthermore believe the calendar is excessively lengthy.

The topic continues to be debated as the world's leading tennis players gather again in Australia for the beginning of the 2026 season.

A slightly longer off-season than 2025 has been greeted positively. Nonetheless, a few weeks is not regarded as sufficient time for thorough recovery before work commences for an 11-month campaign seen as among the most demanding in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," commented Dr. Robby Sikka, medical director 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 actions are being taken and what next actions could be enacted?

Reducing the Calendar Length

The 2025 season lasted 47 weeks for many male competitors, 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 WTA Finals finished in early November. The governing body moved the Billie Jean King Cup Finals forward to September to alleviate scheduling concerns.

The men's tour states 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 initiated a lawsuit against the men's and women's tours in March, referencing "anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare."

Revamping 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 major stakes.

"We must consider whether we can buy back time at the end of the year for an extended off season, 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 reduced the number of events which are included in the rankings for 2026, which it believes will lessen "the cumulative strain" on the players.

"An aspect commonly missed: players choose their own schedules," remarked ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.

"That freedom is rare in professional sport. But with that comes responsibility - recognizing the right time to play and the right time to heal."

Prolonging several required events across a fortnight - creating so-called 'extended events' - 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.

As well as mental burnout, there are worries about the rising physical demands.

Players experience a higher rate of upper-body injuries in certain months, according to available data.

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

Reducing Late Finishes & Standardizing Equipment

When a high-profile game 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 preventing matches commencing later than 11pm.

But there have still been instances of matches finishing well past midnight - which medical experts cannot be allowed to be "romanticised".

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

"Media interviews, rehabilitation, and treatment are required. Your day extends well beyond the match.

"There is insufficient opportunity for the body and mind to heal. No other major sport imposes such conditions."

A lack of standardization in tournament equipment - leading to changes in feel and performance - has been pointed to as a source of a rise in 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 ongoing wrist injury, 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 extremely beneficial to the players," he said.

The tours began using a more centralized ball-selection system during 2025 and expect "full alignment" in the coming years.

Emulate American Sports & Safeguard Juniors

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

Following data-led analysis, the NFL demanded consistent playing surfaces and advanced helmet technology to lessen 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.

"Their commercial success has soared 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 implemented policies aimed at protecting pitchers, limiting their workload at the professional level and putting limits for young players.

Some retired players believe the stress put on the upper body of tennis players from a young age is a major contributor 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.

"Eventually, the wrist bears the brunt. Way more players have problems with the wrist. I think the problem is the many, many repetitions."

Competitors Seek Adjustments - What Are the Key Issues?

An growing group of players are speaking out about the demands placed on them.

Current world number ones are among a collection of elite athletes applying force on the Grand Slams with calls for a larger share of revenue, as well as substantive discussions about the length of the season, longer competitions and scheduling.

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

Public understanding may be limited, though, given top players also participate in lucrative non-tour contests.

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

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