"While Fonseca and Tien had about four weeks without sanctioned events before the Next Gen Finals, the five-day turnaround emphasized how little time professional tennis players have to rest, recover and prepare for a new season. There was just over one month between both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup and the United Cup. The WTA Finals and the ATP Finals took place in mid-November."
"The length of the season, and the relentless and globetrotting nature of the tour, has long been a complaint among players -- but it has intensified in recent years. Alex de Minaur blamed "feeling burned out" for an early exit at the French Open this year. Iga Swiatek criticized the demands of the "super intense" schedule when she was unable to play in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier in the spring."
""Truth is, I've hit a wall and can't continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this life," Kasatkina said in a post on social media."
The 2024 professional tennis season concluded on Dec. 22 when Joao Fonseca defeated Learner Tien at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia. The 2025 season began on Dec. 27 with the United Cup in Australia, creating a five-day turnaround for players such as Fonseca and Tien. The compressed calendar leaves minimal time for rest, recovery and preparation between major events. Players reported growing burnout, injuries and mental fatigue amid a relentless, globetrotting schedule. Several top players shut down their seasons early citing physical and emotional strain. Daria Kasatkina described reaching a breaking point and needing a break from the daily grind of tour life.
Read at ESPN.com
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