Addressing Tennis Burnout Concerns: Players Demand Schedule Reform
French Open 2025
Dates: 25 May-8 June
Venue: Roland Garros
In recent years, tennis burnout concerns have gained significant attention as top players emphasize the unsustainable physical demands of the sport. Most notably, Australian player Alex de Minaur, ranked ninth globally, has expressed his worries, attributing his early French Open exit to burnout. In his second-round match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, the 26-year-old lost momentum after leading by two sets. Therefore, it’s crucial to address these issues promptly.
Last year, Britain’s Jack Draper highlighted the “mental” toll of the current tennis schedule on elite players. Similarly, five-time major champion Iga Swiatek described the demands as “pretty exhausting.” Moreover, Casper Ruud criticized the relentless competition for rankings, and De Minaur warned that the constant pressure might shorten players’ careers, stating, “There is just too much tennis.” The ATP Tour has acknowledged these concerns, asserting that it “does not take these concerns lightly,” while the WTA Tour emphasized that player health and wellbeing are “always our priority.”
Impact of Tennis Schedule on Player Wellbeing
The tennis season for top players spans 11 months. Last year, men’s world number one Jannik Sinner played 79 matches across 17 tournaments. Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked women’s player, participated in 70 matches across the same number of tournaments. Ruud competed in 25 tournaments, the second-most in the ATP’s top 10, with De Minaur close behind at 23.
De Minaur highlighted the relentless schedule by stating, “For the last three or four years, I’ve had two days off, gone straight into pre-season, and then straight into the new season. It’s just never-ending.” Consequently, the need for reform becomes evident.
The pre-season begins in December, and both ATP and WTA Tours resume at the end of the month. The first major tournament, the Australian Open, occurs in mid-January, followed by the French Open in late May, Wimbledon in early July, and the US Open in early September. The season concludes with the ATP and WTA Tour finals, and the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Finals, team events now dubbed the ‘World Cup of Tennis.’
The ATP Tour stated that it “understands” players’ concerns about the demanding schedule. It aims to improve the sport by creating “a more premium product” with increased prize money and opportunities. Importantly, a key goal is calendar reform to provide a longer off-season. For more insights, check out this in-depth analysis of the current tennis schedule.
Revisiting the Rankings Structure
Tennis players often endure pain throughout the lengthy season. Japan’s Naomi Osaka revealed she won two of her four Grand Slams while injured, noting that she often performs better mentally when injured, knowing she must give her all. However, severe injuries can prevent play, and Ruud and De Minaur believe the current structure is unfair to injured players. Ruud explained, “You feel like you lose a lot if you don’t show up and play — economically, points-wise, rankings-wise, and opportunity-wise.”
The ATP has implemented “protections in place” for injured players, highlighting its Baseline programme, which aims to distribute wealth more evenly across the tour. “Players ultimately have the freedom to choose where they compete,” the ATP noted, emphasizing the balance between performance, recovery, and opportunity. The BBC’s coverage of player burnout and mental health in tennis provides additional context and perspectives.
Does the Rankings Structure Need Reform?
ATP rankings are calculated based on performance in 19 events annually, with the top eight players also earning points at the ATP Finals. These events include:
- Four Grand Slams
- Eight mandatory Masters events
- Seven ‘best other’ tournaments, including ATP 500, ATP 250, and Challenger events
De Minaur missed three Masters events due to injury last year, which caused his ranking to suffer due to the absence of points. He remarked, “My ranking now consists of three zeros because I was injured and couldn’t play — which is ridiculous.”
The WTA rankings are based on 18 tournaments, but top players are expected to compete in at least 20, including:
- Four Grand Slams
- Ten 1000 events
- Six 500 events
The WTA stated that the new ranking structure, introduced last year, has not increased players’ workload. “Over the last 10 years, data showed that players competed in an average of 20 events each year, inclusive of the Grand Slams. The new structure does not require players to commit to playing more than this average.”
In conclusion, addressing tennis burnout concerns and the impact of the tennis schedule on player wellbeing is vital. The need for a tennis rankings structure reform is clear, as it would help alleviate ATP player wellbeing issues and ensure a sustainable future for the sport. 🎾
