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When Daria Kasatkina cut short her 2025 season prematurely in October, the ex-top ten player explained how she had "reached her limit."

"The schedule is too much. Mentally and emotionally I'm at breaking point, and, regrettably, I'm not alone," she expressed.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, had earlier revealed she was not in "the right headspace" to carry on, while reigning Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz additionally believe the calendar is excessively lengthy.

This issue is still being argued as the world's leading tennis players reconvene in Australia for the start of the 2026 season.

A somewhat extended off-season than 2025 has been greeted positively. Nevertheless, a few weeks is not seen as enough time for thorough recuperation before work commences for an season lasting nearly a year regarded as among the most demanding in professional sport.

"Tennis places greater strain on athletes now than it ever has," said 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.

"We have a duty to safeguard our athletes and give them a more sustainable sport."

So what actions are being taken and what next actions could be implemented?

Reducing the Calendar Length

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

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

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

That did not appease the PTPA, which initiated a lawsuit against the men's and women's tours in March, pointing to "restrictive policies and an obvious indifference to player health."

Revamping the calendar is an apparent fix but cannot be achieved easily given the complex nature of tennis governance, where the four Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, and ITF each have controlling interests.

"It is crucial to evaluate whether we can create more time at the end of the year for an longer break, or can we buy time during the season so there is a short hiatus," noted Dr. Sikka.

Former world number one Andy Roddick, a vocal proponent of reform, says the season should not go past 1 November.

The ATP Tour has decreased the number of events which factor into the rankings for 2026, which it thinks will lessen "overall demands" 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 accountability - understanding when to compete and when to rest."

Stretching several mandatory tournaments across a fortnight - creating so-called 'super weeks' - has also been faulted.

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

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

Players are more prone to upper-body injuries in particular times of the year, according to PTPA research.

The organization says these "foreseeable patterns" 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 seemed set to trigger adjustments.

In 2024, the tours brought in a new rule prohibiting matches starting after 11pm.

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

"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.

"Your body, brain and nerves don't have chance to recover. There is no other sport which mandates that."

The use of varying balls at different events - leading to changes in bounce and speed - has been cited as a source of a rise in upper body injuries.

"I have suffered numerous arm, shoulder, and wrist issues," said one top British player, "and such ailments are increasingly prevalent among peers."

A former US Open champion, who stepped away last year with an ongoing wrist injury, thinks tournaments in the same seasonal segment should use one standard ball.

"It shouldn't be too difficult - the same ball for clay, the same for hard and the same for grass. That would be incredibly useful to the players," he said.

The tours moved towards a more standardized equipment policy during 2025 and project "complete uniformity" in the coming years.

Take Lessons from the NFL & Shield Developing Athletes

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

Using data-led analysis, the NFL mandated consistent playing surfaces and improved helmet technology to reduce 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.

"Their commercial success has soared 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 devoting significant resources – that model is the exemplar."

Other leagues have introduced rules aimed at protecting pitchers, limiting their workload 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 young 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."

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 coalition of top players applying force on the Grand Slams with calls for a bigger piece of the financial pie, as well as substantive discussions about the length of the season, longer competitions and fixture planning.

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

Support is not always forthcoming, though, given top players occasionally sign up for lucrative showcase matches.

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

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