The debate surrounding the relentless ATP and WTA calendars has intensified, with tennis stars such as Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, and Taylor Fritz speaking out about the growing physical and mental toll of competing nearly year-round. While fans enjoy the nonstop action of an 11-month season, players are raising concerns that the constant grind leaves little time for recovery and increases the risk of injuries.
The professional tennis calendar stretches from early January to late November, leaving players with barely a month of rest before the new season begins. Compared to other major sports, the lack of an offseason stands out—NBA players get nearly four months of rest, while the NFL offers close to seven months away from competition. In tennis, however, four to six weeks of downtime is considered the maximum break, and that is sparking frustration among some of the sport’s biggest names.
The issue became more prominent at the 2025 US Open, where several top players withdrew due to injury or illness. Jannik Sinner, for example, skipped the mixed doubles event despite competing in singles to preserve his energy. Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz, Ons Jabeur, Qinwen Zheng, Jack Draper, Grigor Dimitrov, and Paula Badosa were also among the notable names forced out. On top of that, fans witnessed mid-match retirements, further highlighting how demanding the schedule has become.
Multiple ATP Superstars like Iga Swiatek have pulled out of the US Open
Iga Swiatek has been one of the most vocal critics of the calendar. As early as 2023, she questioned the increase in mandatory tournaments and the lack of flexibility for players. Ahead of the 2024 season, which included both the Olympics and four Grand Slams, she said the schedule needed major improvement. At the Cincinnati Open in 2024, she openly expressed her frustration, saying players deserve more opportunities to rest. She has repeatedly described the WTA schedule as “tough and crazy,” noting that it often leaves no time for recovery, with new tournaments beginning before the year has even ended.
Iga Swiatek’s concerns are backed by numbers. Before 2019, WTA players faced 15 mandatory tournaments. Now, that figure has jumped to 21, stretching the season to 32 weeks for those reaching finals. While extended tournament formats provide rest days between matches, they also prolong the length of events, which only adds to the strain. For male players, the list of requirements is just as daunting: four Grand Slams, eight Masters 1000s, multiple ATP 500 and ATP 250 events, plus the ATP Finals, Davis Cup, and exhibitions like the Laver Cup. The result is a schedule that leaves little room to breathe.
Carlos Alcaraz has also been outspoken about the issue. During the 2024 Laver Cup, the Spaniard criticized the ATP for overloading players with mandatory tournaments, even joking that the tour was “going to kill us in some way.” In an interview with the Financial Times, he explained that players are pushing for change, hoping to remove some events and carve out more rest periods. After winning the 2025 US Open, Alcaraz once again used his platform to call the schedule one of tennis’s biggest problems. His workload reflects his concerns: 77 matches in 2023, 61 in 2024, and already 67 by 2025. For a player in his early 20s, the intensity raises concerns about long-term sustainability.
Taylor Fritz has echoed those frustrations, particularly after a spate of withdrawals from the 2025 Canadian Open. The American labeled the season “insane,” noting that tournaments are continually added without reducing others. He criticized the expanded 12-day Masters 1000 events, arguing they make it harder for players to balance preparation for majors while managing their physical health. For Fritz, a shorter season is the only logical solution.
The chorus of criticism doesn’t end there. Australian Alex de Minaur called the calendar “grueling” after the 2025 French Open, describing the demands as “not normal.” Fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson went further, bluntly calling the ATP schedule “a joke.” On the women’s side, Daria Kasatkina admitted to feeling the early signs of burnout, also labeling the schedule “pretty rough.” These comments add weight to the argument that the system is putting too much pressure on athletes across both tours.
Even tennis insiders are beginning to acknowledge the strain. Veteran journalist Jon Wertheim remarked, “These players are not robots,” a sentiment that resonates as fans see more withdrawals, retirements, and calls for reform. The recurring complaints suggest the issue is not just a temporary debate but a structural flaw that could shape the future of the sport.
With players like Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, and Taylor Fritz at the forefront of the conversation, the message is clear: the ATP and WTA must confront the demands of an unforgiving schedule. As the number of tournaments continues to rise and the season stretches deeper into the calendar year, the risk of injuries, burnout, and shortened careers looms larger than ever. For now, fans may enjoy near-constant tennis, but the growing resistance from players shows that change might soon be unavoidable.
