Key Highlights
- Iga Swiatek was critical of the mandatory requirements of WTA tournaments, calling the season “too long and too intense” as several players cut their campaigns short, citing burnout.
- “Mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly I am not alone,” said Daria Kasatkina. At the same time, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka went on record, on behalf of a group of leading players from the men’s and women’s top 10s, in calling for more prize money from the grand slam tournaments and criticising the lack of progress in discussions on player welfare.
- The 22-year-old Rune, who was making a late push for the ATP Finals, tore his achilles tendon, a horrific injury that sparked further concern around the tennis calendar and led to Jack Draper being particularly vocal in calling for change, as the British No 1 continues to nurse his own left arm injury. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd this all came as the four grand slam tournaments, as well as the ATP and WTA, faced legal action from the breakaway Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) , with a lawsuit citing “systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare”. These issues – schedule, player welfare, prize money – are nothing new.
- Indeed, with the 2026 season now underway and the Australian Open around the corner, the same discussions would have taken place last year, the year before that, and so on.
- The presence of the legendary Venus Williams in the Australian Open main draw, after the 45-year-old accepted a wildcard into the tournament, is perhaps symbolic of a sport that often takes its time to alter course. Many point to the fact that tennis has seven governing bodies, in the ATP, WTA, ITF and the four historic grand slam events in Wimbledon, Roland Garros, the Australian Open and the US Open, mean getting everyone around the same table is challenging enough. But the pressure is on from dissatisfied players.
