Introduction
The recent retirement of Jannik Sinner during the men’s singles final at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, after just five games against Carlos Alcaraz, has sparked a renewed debate about the demanding nature of the professional tennis schedule. This year’s Cincinnati Open, along with the Canadian Open preceding it, was extended to a 12-day format—a shift from the traditional seven-day event. This timing change left players with only two weeks to recover following the grueling Wimbledon Championships, which many competitors found extremely taxing.
Extended Tournament Durations
The extended duration of these tournaments draws further scrutiny as it mirrors changes made in 2023 to both the Madrid and Italian Opens, which also transitioned to 12-day events. Although there was already a backlash over this adjustment in other tournaments, the fallout from the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens appears to be more severe. Notably, star players like Alcaraz, Sinner, and Novak Djokovic opted out of the Canadian Open, with Djokovic’s withdrawal largely expected. In contrast, Sinner and Alcaraz might have participated had the tournament been scheduled for a shorter duration a week later.
Player Fatigue and Withdrawals
WTA’s top player, Aryna Sabalenka, also skipped the Canadian tournament, citing fatigue, further highlighting the strenuous nature of the elite tennis calendar. Other players withdrew as well, indicating a troubling trend where injuries and sheer exhaustion limit participation, particularly in crucial 1000-level events.
Challenging Conditions
The grueling Cincinnati heat added another layer of difficulty. Alexander Zverev, despite feeling unwell, valiantly played through his semifinal against Alcaraz, indicating the extreme conditions athletes are facing. The quick turnaround between competing in Toronto right before Cincinnati likely added to the challenges Zverev encountered.
In Sinner’s case, he had already been battling an illness leading into the match, and with the final scheduled at an earlier 3 p.m. start time, which exposed players to the peak heat of the day, his capacity to perform was compromised—eventually leading to his retirement just into the match.
Scheduling Conflicts
The scheduling of the ATP and WTA finals on the same day further exemplifies the problem, with multiple tournaments happening simultaneously, including the fan week for the US Open and events in Monterrey, Cleveland, and Winston-Salem. This not only places players’ health in jeopardy but also impacts tournament attendance and fan engagement due to the split focus.
Voices of Concern
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who voiced concerns about his scheduling early in the Canadian Open, took to social media to express dissatisfaction: “A Monday final at 3pm in August in Cincinnati, after the whole Toronto–Cincinnati swing, with so many retirements and players dead tired… something needs to change.”
Conclusion
While athletes today are incredibly fit, they cannot perform like machines without serious risks of injury. Overworking marquee players like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff, who are essential for ticket sales and audience interest, could irreparably damage their health and, by extension, the sport itself. Although the ATP has already released its schedule for 2026, any changes moving forward would likely require a collective push from the players of both tours to advocate for a more sustainable framework for their competitions.
