Top player Iga Swiatek and other tennis players say mental and physical health is being ignored

It is not new that tennis players worry out loud about the overcrowded calendar of their sport, the too heavy season and the too short off-season.

No. 1 Iga Swiatek added another complaint this week at the U.S. Open: Athletes are not being heard when they raise concerns about the potential harm to their mental and physical health from more tournaments that last longer and new rules that require participation in more events. Moreover, those athletes are not being consulted enough by the professional tours, she added.

“We definitely want to stay on top of things,” said Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who plays her second-round match on Thursday at Flushing Meadows. “It would be nice if we could have some impact because I don’t think our sport is going in the right direction.”

She is not the only one who has such doubts.

“The tours are not united enough to work together without egos and money getting involved. The players are being crushed in so many ways — physically, mentally, financially,” said Mackie McDonald, a Californian who defeated Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open and lost to No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.

“To have a normal life? We are still far from that. And then also get what we deserve, especially at the Grand Slams? It’s sad. I’ll put it this way.”

The conflict, as explained by three-time major tournament semi-finalist Elina Svitolina, is this: “You want to play more, because you want to be high in the rankings and win tournaments, but you also have to take care of your mental health and your physical condition. [condition].”

In 2024, in addition to the four Grand Slam tournaments, women will have to participate in 16 WTA events, up from 10 in 2023. According to the tour, players have played an average of about 20 tournaments per season in recent years.

Another thing that players don’t seem to be happy about is the increasing number of two-week tournaments for women and men in the category below the Grand Slams, which shortens the breaks between events.

Campaign 2025 starts in December

“We don’t have time to work on things or to live peacefully,” Swiatek said, “because from one tournament we go straight to another.”

She also noted that the 2025 season will begin in the last week of December 2024.

“There is no doubt that the professional tennis season is long and we recognise that the schedule is demanding, particularly for players playing at the highest level,” said Portia Archer, the tour’s new CEO.

“The new schedule, which was developed in consultation with player and tournament representatives, does not require players [on average] to play more than they would have in previous years, but offers more predictability for the top players and better pathways for ambitious players.”

“The WTA continues to listen to feedback from players and tournaments and remains open to any future adjustments.”

The ATP men’s tournament has eight mandatory Masters 1000 events each year and players must participate in four lower-level tournaments, known as the 500s.

Holger Rune, the 15th-seeded player at the US Open, said he was struggling with a knee injury after his first-round loss and probably should have taken some time off, but felt compelled to keep fighting.

“We want to be ready and play the best tournaments, but the schedule is so tight. It’s probably the tightest sporting schedule I think there is. You have December, when we should be off. And then you have the exhibition events and everything,” Rune said. “It’s almost 24/7.”

That can lead to injuries. Or burnout. Or just not being able to do your best.

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