Tennis Players Call for Calendar Reforms
Tennis players, including Jack Draper, have expressed their desire for reforms to the tournament calendar, particularly in light of the season’s grueling schedule. However, Jim Courier, a veteran of the sport and former world No. 1, has raised concerns about the accuracy of some of these grievances.
Concerns Over Extended Season
Top athletes from the ATP and WTA have voiced discontent over the extended duration of the season, with Iga Swiatek notably highlighting the burden of mandatory tournaments. The WTA’s structure requires elite players to compete in four Grand Slams, ten 1,000-point events, and six 500-point tournaments to avoid penalties, a challenge that many competitors struggle to meet, often leading to lost ranking points for stars like Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys.
Urgency for Reform
The urgency for reform intensified following a severe injury suffered by Holger Rune during the 2025 Stockholm Open, where he damaged his Achilles tendon—an incident that might have career-altering repercussions. This incident led Jack Draper, who faced his own arm injury and chose to end his season early at the 2025 US Open, along with Taylor Fritz, to advocate for adjustments in the tennis calendar, including a desire for a more extended off-season.
Courier’s Perspective
In a discussion on Tennis Channel, Courier addressed Draper’s aspiration for a six-week break from competition, pointing out that players typically enjoy this length of time off, especially following their last mandatory events.
Courier clarified that players who are set to participate in the upcoming Davis Cup finals will indeed have six weeks, while others, such as those exiting the WTA finals, may benefit from an even more extended break.
Debate on Off-Season Length
Initially, Courier seemed to agree that the current off-season might not be sufficient; however, he later reversed his stance, suggesting that players actually experience ample downtime, with top-performing WTA players having up to two months off. He emphasized that the misunderstanding likely stems from a lack of awareness regarding how much time athletes truly receive away from the tour.
Proposed Solutions
Instead of simply extending the off-season, Courier proposed implementing more regular breaks throughout the year, allowing players to recuperate and manage the physical and mental strains of an exhausting schedule. He stressed the importance of grounding the discussion in factual data, noting that the facts often appear to be misrepresented in ongoing debates about player welfare in tennis.
