Insisting that a revolution in tennis is imminent, Stefanos Tsitsipas has instructed the sport’s executives to reconsider the schedule in order to lessen the strain on players.
Top players must participate in at least 18 events over the season; the Greek star has participated in 20 this year. Tsitsipas competed for Team Europe in last weekend’s Laver Cup victory over Team World. However, he was eliminated from the US Open in the opening round earlier this month and barely made it to Wimbledon’s second round in the summer.
And in a 747-word post with seven subheadings on X (formerly known as Twitter), the two-time Grand Slam finalist expressed his opinions about the status of tennis. However, he later erased his comments.
“Tennis has always been a sport with deep roots, but those of us who play know the demands of the year-round schedule,” the speaker said in his opening statement. Although this subject has been covered previously, change is now more important than ever. Even the greatest players are being pushed to their limits by the never-ending travel between continents and the ongoing performance pressure.”
“The ATP and WTA calendars don’t give us a break,” he continued. In an effort to maintain our attention and physical condition, we go from tournament to tournament nonstop.
“Injuries? They come with the territory. We’ve seen greats like Rafa [Nadal] and [Andy] Murray speak out about the toll it takes on them, not just physically but mentally.
And then there’s the pressure… just look at how Naomi Osaka opened up about her struggles with anxiety in the spotlight. Despite the outcry, not much has changed.”
He continued: “What if we moved from quantity to quality? Imagine fewer tournaments, but each one carrying more importance. A rotating system for the smaller tournaments could be a solution.
“Shortening the season could also make a big difference. It’s not just about avoiding injuries; it’s about keeping players in the game longer.
“Less wear and tear means more years of top-level tennis, stronger rivalries, and better matches. And let’s face it, the fans want to see the top players competing at their peak.
With leaders like Novak Djokovic stepping in, the push for a more player-friendly schedule is gaining traction. We players know better than anyone what’s needed, and now we’re in a unique position to negotiate these changes.”
