IN 2024, THE skilled tennis season formally concluded on Dec. 22 when Joao Fonseca defeated Learner Tien for the title on the ATP Subsequent Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia.
The 2025 season bought underway on Dec. 27 for the United Cup in Australia. Each Fonseca and Tien had been again on court docket on Dec. 30 for tournaments in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively.
“I do not understand how the ’25 season begins in ’24,” Jordan Thompson, the 2024 US Open doubles champion, stated on the time. “I imply, it is a joke.”
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Whereas Fonseca and Tien had about 4 weeks with out sanctioned occasions earlier than the Subsequent Gen Finals, the five-day turnaround emphasised how little time skilled tennis gamers need to relaxation, get well and put together for a brand new season. There was simply over one month between each the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup and the United Cup. The WTA Finals and the ATP Finals passed off in mid-November.
The size of the season, and the relentless and globetrotting nature of the tour, has lengthy been a criticism amongst gamers — however it has intensified lately. Alex de Minaur blamed “feeling burned out” for an early exit on the French Open this yr. Iga Swiatek criticized the calls for of the “tremendous intense” schedule when she was unable to play in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier within the spring. Throughout sooner or later on the China Open in late September, 5 of the 12 scheduled matches resulted in midmatch retirements.
A number of gamers, together with Frances Tiafoe, Danielle Collins, Jack Draper and Daria Kasatkina, shut down their seasons early this yr, citing accidents and psychological fatigue.
“Reality is, I’ve hit a wall and may’t proceed. I would like a break. A break from the monotonous each day grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the outcomes, the strain, the identical faces (sorry, women), every little thing that comes with this life,” Kasatkina stated in a publish on social media. “The schedule is an excessive amount of, mentally and emotionally I’m at a breaking level and sadly, I’m not alone.”
Because the 2025 season winds down and gamers nearly instantly flip their consideration to 2026, the dialog concerning the size and depth of the tennis season will solely proceed. The massive query is: Will something change within the close to future?
TOP-RANKED AMERICAN Taylor Fritz had a breakout season in 2024. After reaching the quarterfinals on the Australian Open and Wimbledon, he reached his first main last on the US Open. By season’s finish, he had gained two ATP titles, reached 4 finals (together with on the ATP Finals), captured an Olympic bronze medal in doubles with Tommy Paul and earned a brand new career-high rating of No. 4.
However there could be no time to have a good time. And in reality, as a result of he had accomplished so properly, it solely prolonged his season, as a result of he had secured an invitation to the year-end ATP Finals and would play within the Davis Cup finals.
“There is no offseason, and in case you’re a prime participant, you truly get even much less of an offseason,” Fritz advised ESPN within the spring. “If the season had been to finish in Paris [in early November] prefer it does for many gamers, you then get a month and a half earlier than the season begins, possibly even somewhat extra, I believe possibly every week additional, however in case you play the Tour Finals and Davis Cup, you are truly including three extra weeks onto it, after which in case you play United Cup like I do, since you’re prime participant, it begins earlier as properly.”
For Fritz that resulted in about three weeks between the tip of his 2024 season and the beginning of his 2025 marketing campaign. He returned residence on the finish of November and stated he needed to go away for Australia on Dec. 21. And, as he identified, there was so much he needed to do throughout that stretch.
“Folks do not perceive it’s important to be coaching throughout that point,” Fritz stated. “The offseason is your time to coach, so if I’ve three weeks, I take one week [to relax or go on vacation] and that is it. I get one week off the entire yr. It is absurd.”
As a result of many gamers use the time to implement any adjustments they wish to make, whether or not technically or when it comes to their teaching employees, it is a essential interval. However is it extra essential than having an opportunity to relaxation or get well after the bodily demanding season on the highway? That is as much as every participant to resolve.
For some, the offseason, irrespective of how temporary, marks one of many solely instances they’re able to spend at residence. That’s very true for these from Australia, who spend a lot of the season residing out of a suitcase.
“For me after I come again to Australia, I simply wish to get right down to the seashore, relax, take two weeks off the rackets,” Thompson stated in the beginning of the 2025 season. “However I’ve nonetheless bought to do a whole lot of bodily stuff to remain in form. It’s actually three weeks earlier than you are again into match mode. You’ll be able to’t afford to have any slip-ups with that period of time off bodily.”
Can a participant discover time throughout the season to take a break? Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 38, performed solely the main occasions this summer season, skipping all the ATP tournaments in June, July and August. His objective was to prioritize successful what could be a record-breaking twenty fifth main title and to spend time along with his household. However he is additionally in a uncommon place. He has stated that he is unconcerned by his rating at this stage of his profession, and with over $190 million earned in on-court prize cash, funds are hardly a fear both.
The excursions require gamers to play a sure variety of tournaments yearly. Qualifying ATP gamers should play in all 4 majors, eight Masters 1000-level occasions and 5 500-level tournaments, together with one held after the US Open. Prime WTA gamers additionally should play within the Grand Slams, along with 10 1000-level tournaments and 6 500-level occasions. Seven of the 1000-level tournaments now final 12 days, with a number of lately prolonged from one week.
A participant may be exempted from a serious or the 1000-level tournaments as a consequence of an harm, but when a WTA participant does not meet the six-tournament threshold for the 500-level occasions, they are going to be deducted rating factors. Present No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Swiatek, along with others within the prime 10 reminiscent of Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys, misplaced factors on the finish of the 2024 season as a result of they did not play within the required variety of tournaments. Swiatek, who had been No. 1 on the time, dropped to No. 2. ATP gamers who fail to fulfill the standards might face reductions in end-of-season bonus pool earnings.
Many prime gamers have been vocal concerning the influence of the size and necessities of the schedule, particularly as a result of they regularly attain the late levels of tournaments they play.
Swiatek, who had been enjoying in one of many injury-shortened matches on the China Open in September, was fast accountable the schedule after Camila Osorio, her opponent, retired following the primary set of their match. She advised reporters she would seemingly “have to decide on some tournaments and skip them, despite the fact that they’re necessary” going ahead.
“WTA, with all these necessary guidelines, they made this gorgeous loopy for us,” Swiatek stated. “I do not suppose any prime participant will truly have the ability to obtain this, enjoying the six 500 tournaments. It is simply unimaginable to squeeze it within the schedule.
“I believe we now have to be sensible about it, not likely, sadly, care concerning the guidelines and simply suppose what’s wholesome for us. Yeah, it is robust.”
Swiatek misplaced in her subsequent match, then reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan earlier than failing to make it out of the group stage on the WTA Finals.
The WTA and others within the sport have repeatedly pointed to the prolonged 1000-level tournaments as a part of the way in which it could have the ability to guarantee equal prize cash at tournaments with their male counterparts.
“I all the time hear cries for extra prize cash, extra prize cash and that is what the tour’s bought to [do] — to extend the prize cash they’ve needed to prolong the size of those tournaments,” stated Anne Keothavong, a former participant and captain of Nice Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup workforce in a current interview on Sky Sports activities. “So what’s it you need?”
Gauff, the world No. 3, did not disagree with that argument, however stated it was “unimaginable” to fulfill all the necessities in a given yr.
“I suppose on a enterprise standpoint, it might form of make sense, however on a player-health standpoint, I do not actually agree with it,” Gauff stated on the China Open. “I’ve principally performed as a lot tennis as I presumably can and it is unimaginable to maintain up with the six 500s. It is simply unimaginable.”
Gauff performed in three 500-level tournaments in 2025, as did Sabalenka, Swiatek and Anisimova. Keys performed in 4. Nonetheless, that did not lead to fewer matches. Swiatek performed in a tour-leading 80 matches this season. Sabalenka appeared in 76 (as did WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina), Gauff in 65, Anisimova in 63 and Keys in 53.
The state of the highest gamers was on full show on the Shanghai Masters in October. Many complained concerning the brutal warmth and humidity and others felt the burden of the lengthy season.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew earlier than the match started as a consequence of a left ankle harm. Second-ranked Jannik Sinner retired from his third-round match as a consequence of cramping. Djokovic vomited throughout his spherical of 32 match and wanted therapy for a again harm throughout his loss within the semifinals. The ultimate featured Valentin Vacherot, then-ranked No. 204 on the earth and the ninth alternate within the qualifying draw, versus his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, then-ranked No. 40. An unbelievable story to make sure, however maybe not the title conflict the ATP hoped for in certainly one of its signature occasions.
LAST MONTH, THE ATP introduced it could or not it’s including one other Masters 1000-level match to its schedule as early as 2028, in Saudi Arabia. It will convey the whole quantity within the class to 10, with 9 of them necessary. (Monte Carlo stays an non-obligatory occasion.) It stays unclear precisely when the match will happen throughout the already jam-packed schedule, or if girls can be included as properly.
The French Open, Australian Open and US Open have all added an extra day of play to the primary draw lately, shifting the beginning day from Monday to Sunday. A number of gamers voiced their opposition to it in New York this yr because the US Open applied it for the primary time.
“I am not likely a fan of it,” Jessica Pegula, presently ranked No. 6, stated. “I do not know why they needed to make it even longer. Properly, I do know why they did it — they get to promote tickets for an additional day.”
Brad Stine, the longtime coach of Tommy Paul, acknowledges that the controversy across the size of the season is nothing new. He has been a coach on the skilled stage since 1990, when he started working with Jim Courier, and has heard it all around the years.
Whereas Stine does consider the ATP and WTA ought to do away with the “necessary” distinction on tournaments, and guarantee there’s a week or two off after each Slam, he additionally believes gamers ought to be much less “paranoid” about shedding rating factors and skip tournaments at any time when they really feel they want a break.
“Nobody’s required to play. You’ll be able to take break day everytime you wish to take break day,” he stated.
Moreover, he thinks lots of the gamers undermine their issues by enjoying within the high-paying exhibitions throughout the offseason, or different breaks within the schedule.
“There does not appear to be a scarcity of gamers seeking to play these occasions,” Stine advised ESPN. “A few of them are the gamers which might be proponents of a shorter season. ‘We’d like extra breaks, we’d like a shorter season.’ However then after they’re given a possibility to have break day, they decide to play extra occasions.”
Alcaraz, one of the vocal proponents of the necessity for a shorter season, performed within the profitable Six Kings Slam in October and is scheduled to play in a number of different exhibition occasions in December, together with in New York, Newark and Miami. He was fast to dismiss the correlation.
“It is a totally different format, totally different state of affairs enjoying exhibitions than the official tournaments, 15, 16 days in row, having such a excessive focus and demanding bodily,” Alcaraz stated throughout a information convention on the Six Kings Slam. “We’re simply having enjoyable for one or two days and enjoying some tennis, and that is nice, and why we select the exhibitions.
“I perceive [the criticism], however typically folks do not perceive us, our opinions. It is not likely demanding mentally [compared with] once we’re having such lengthy occasions like two weeks or two-and-a-half weeks.”
WHILE IT SEEMS most gamers consider one thing has to vary, the specifics current a problem.
“It simply must be shortened up. It is an excessive amount of,” Fritz stated when requested what ought to be modified. “It’s simply an excessive amount of.”
He added he did not consider any adjustments could be forthcoming.
“I do not suppose we’re being heard,” he stated. “I believe you’ve gotten myself, Carlos, and Sasha [Zverev], so three of the highest 4 gamers on the earth saying that it simply must be shortened, and there hasn’t been any speak of change actually.”
And it is not fairly that easy. Whereas it’d sound logical to, say, finish the season after the US Open with the year-end finals quickly after, that leaves 12 WTA and 13 ATP tournaments (along with the Billie Jean King Cup, Davis Cup and Laver Cup) presently on the books with no spot on the calendar. Host organizations and cities pay a premium licensing price so as to stage every occasion — with costs various relying on the extent of the match — and sometimes signal multiyear agreements to take action.
Whereas adjustments have been few and much between, there have been some.
The Billie Jean King Cup last, performed in November final yr and in current seasons, was moved to September to permit for an extended offseason for WTA gamers this yr. It was additionally held in Shenzhen, China, for the primary time, permitting many gamers to then seamlessly play within the Asian swing instantly after. (Playoffs to find out the qualifying groups for the 2026 match can be held from Nov. 14 by way of 16, nevertheless, and options 21 nations.) The Davis Cup saved its earlier time slot and is scheduled to start on Nov.18 in Bologna, Italy, and conclude on Nov. 23.
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There have been discussions about larger adjustments. In 2024, the 4 Grand Slams engaged in early conversations for a “Premier Tour,” with an annual schedule that will include the majors, roughly 10 different occasions and a year-end last.
In response, the WTA and the ATP proposed an identical model of the concept to the Slams — in an effort to “restructure the game” — within the spring of this yr. Per The Athletic, that plan would additionally embrace the 4 majors, 10 1000-level occasions, 17 500-level occasions for the WTA and 16 for the ATP, and a discount of 250-level tournaments by way of buybacks of licensing. It will in the end lower the variety of tournaments between the 2 organizations from 118 to roughly 75. However the WTA and ATP didn’t promote the Grand Slams on the concept, reportedly partly due to the proposed construction of the board to supervise the brand new enterprise.
However whereas dramatically reworking the game may be off the desk — for now, at the very least — there are different smaller methods to repair the issue. Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick contemplated transferring the order of occasions within the fall schedule on a current episode of his “Served” Podcast.
“Why cannot [ATP 250-level tournaments like the Nordic Open and the European Open] exist after World Tour finals?” Roddick questioned. “Why cannot we now have a wraparound season the place these [250s] go for a month [leading into the new year]? [If] extra gamers need extra alternatives, nice, then go do it. After which the highest gamers, in the event that they select to play Six Kings or another exhibition, then they cannot complain concerning the schedule being too lengthy anymore as a result of it is not wedged into the center of the yr. [As it is] they need to fill some house. They need to play one thing earlier than World Tour Finals. If it ends within the again half of November, one thing’s bought to offer. We’ve got to have a objective to be accomplished by Nov. 1.”
The WTA and the ATP will not be clueless to the complaints and issues of their gamers. In an announcement supplied to ESPN, the WTA referred to as athlete welfare a “prime precedence” and stated the group is in fixed communication with gamers, together with by way of the gamers’ council and the representatives on the WTA Board.
“Following an intensive evaluate, our participant and match representatives voted to introduce enhancements to the tour’s season construction in 2024,” the WTA assertion continued. “The up to date construction delivers significant will increase in participant compensation ($400 million over the subsequent a number of years), provides extra aggressive alternatives throughout all tiers of the tour, and establishes clearer participant participation pointers for top-ranked gamers to make sure stronger fields on the prime occasions, all whereas making it simpler for followers to observe and join with the gamers and season.”
The group added it was “dedicated to protecting [the] tour construction beneath evaluate.”
When requested for remark, the ATP directed ESPN to an August interview with chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. In that, Gaudenzi referred to as the calendar “complicated” however stated a objective of the ATP was to “prolong the offseason.” Nonetheless he added that the ATP was certainly one of many organizing our bodies in skilled tennis with say over the schedule and emphasised the person nature of tennis.
“One participant may be out within the first spherical, one other is lifting the trophy after the ultimate,” Gaudenzi stated. “Discovering an answer that works for each ends of that spectrum is rarely simple, and you can’t construct a calendar round only a single cohort of gamers. All cohorts should be thought of.”
But it surely’s clear, irrespective of how far aside gamers and the powers that be appear to be on the schedule, the present state of affairs is tenuous at greatest.
Djokovic, who spent a number of years on the ATP’s participant council and based the Skilled Tennis Gamers Affiliation (PTPA) in 2020, has lengthy been a fierce critic of the present and evolving schedule and in his estimation has been talking in opposition to it for “greater than 15 years.” However even he acknowledged it to be a “very complicated” matter when requested about it forward of the Shanghai Masters occasion in October.
In the end he stated, if gamers wished to see change, they’d merely need to do extra and study the assorted layers of the tennis ecosystem.
“Ultimately, as a participant and somebody that has been enjoying on the best stage for greater than 20 years, I can say that the gamers will not be united sufficient,” Djokovic stated. “Gamers will not be taking part sufficient when they need to be. In order that they make the feedback they usually complain, after which they go away … However it’s important to make investments the time, it’s important to make investments vitality your self … to grasp how the system works, to grasp what are the issues that may be accomplished to be reversed, to be improved when it comes to the gamers’ curiosity.”
“As a result of going out within the media and speaking about this and that, OK, it’d fire up some vitality or some consideration. However on the finish of the day, nothing goes to vary, you understand? I do know it from my private expertise, belief me.”
