Howdy, y’all and Happy Tennis Tuesday! The tennis calendar has always been a hot topic of discussion and among the outspoken players is Iga Swiatek. As we inch closer to the WTA Finals to wrap up the 2025 season, I feel more players are wrapping up their seasons earlier. Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia, Emma Raducanu and Daria Kasatkina have either struggled with illness/injury and the tolls the season takes on them.
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Across 60 tournaments in six continents, the current WTA calendar runs from early January through mid-November. There’s only a brief off-season for players to rest, recover, and prepare for the following year that kicks off as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. While top players can be selective about their schedules, the structure creates a perverse incentive system that pushes athletes (especially those ranked outside the elite tier) to compete relentlessly or risk falling behind in rankings and earnings.
The most obvious argument against the current calendar length is the physical toll it wreaks on players’ bodies. Tennis is among the most demanding sports requiring the ability to compete on varying surfaces that stress the body differently, on top of the growing physicality of the game. Hard courts punish joints, clay courts demand grueling rallies, and grass courts — with a short season between the clay and hardcourt tournaments — require rapid adjustments that can lead to slips and injuries.
Withdrawals due to injury or exhaustion are by far too much of a common occurance. Multiple top-ranked players withdraw from tournaments mid-season each year, and career-ending injuries before age 30 are distressingly common. Former World No. 1 Ash Barty cited burnout and the demands of touring as significant factors in her two retirements before the age of 25. More recently, former U.S. Open champions Bianca Andreescu and Raducanu have struggled to maintain consistent participation due to recurring injuries and/or motivation.
The calendar’s length also disproportionately affects emerging players trying to establish themselves. These athletes feel compelled to play nearly every available tournament to accumulate ranking points and prize money, creating a dangerous cycle where rest becomes a luxury they believe they cannot afford. Looking at this week’s WTA rankings, twelve players have played 34 or more tournaments the past year (for the record, Varvara Lepchenko has played 37 singles tournaments, the most on tour) and only four of those rank in the Top 100. Too many players are driving their bodies into the ground to hopefully find themselves in the upper echelon of the sport.
Beyond physical wear, the mental health implications of constant travel and competition are increasingly acknowledged. Tennis is uniquely isolating. Players compete as individuals, often traveling with small teams (if they can afford), spending months away from family and support networks. The pressure to perform week after week, combined with jet lag, unfamiliar environments, and the loneliness of life on tour, creates a perfect storm for psychological distress.
That being said, tennis is a business. The WTA faces complex economic pressures that complicate any potential calendar reform. Tournament organizers, sponsors, and broadcasters have invested billions in the sport’s infrastructure. Prize money has grown substantially, with total tour prize money continuing to break previous records, providing opportunities for players ranked well outside the top 100 to earn sustainable livings.
Shortening the calendar could mean fewer opportunities for lower-ranked players to earn income and for tournaments to recoup their investments. The WTA must balance player welfare against the economic ecosystem that supports the sport at all levels. Top players can pick and choose their tournaments, but depending on when/where the tournament is and potentially an injury or chance to rest, they can risk a fine by the tour, a 0 point earned on their ranking requirements and/or loss on potential bonus pool money.
The solution likely lies not in drastically shortening the calendar but in reforming ranking systems and tournament obligations to give players more agency. Reducing mandatory tournament requirements for top players, allowing ranking points to be earned over longer periods (do you move to a two-year rolling ranking?), or creating clearer off-season windows could preserve the tour’s economic viability while protecting player health. I’ve seen some propose a model similar to golf’s PGA Tour, where players can more easily customize their schedules without ranking penalties. Others suggest reducing the number of mandatory Premier events or creating more flexible scheduling for lower-tier tournaments.
The current calendar may be sustainable for the tour as a business entity, but it’s increasingly clear that it’s unsustainable for the players who power it. Remember, there is no WTA without the athletes. Protecting their long-term health is not only ethical, but it ensures a viable future for all parties involved.
Now, on to links!
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This Week in Women’s Tennis
In a move that made me pause and scratch my head, the ITF shared that they will be rebranding to “World Tennis” starting in 2026.
Jasmine Paolini is the seventh singles player to qualify for the WTA Finals Riyadh, while the final two doubles teams punched their tickets to Saudi Arabia. The final singles berth will be decided this week and Elena Rybakina is sure making things difficult for Mirra Andreeva’s hopes to qualify for the WTA Finals.
Speaking of Rybakina, the Kazakh won the Ningbo Open by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova to win her tenth singles title. The doubles crown was captured by Liudmila Samsonova and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, who defeated Luisa Stefani and Timea Babos.
At the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, Leylah Fernandez outlasted Tereza Valentova to take her second title of the year. Taylor Townsend and Kristina Mladenovic collected their first title as a duo, defeating Stom Hunter and Desirae Krawczyk in the championship.
Marta Kostyuk opened up to Vogue Ukraine about her career and embracing her emotions, as well as the circus tour life throws at her.
Wakana Sonobe has the tools and backing to be a top player in the coming years and she’s just getting started.
The playoffs for next year’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers were announced, as well as the player lineups:
How important are stats to players and coaches when trying to figure out how to reach the next level?
Coco Gauff was part of an ad released this week for the upcoming Wicked: For Good movie coming out next month.
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Five at The IX: Megan Rose, USTA Coaching
Megan Rose currently serves as the Managing Director, Head of Business Development and Operations for USTA Coaching, where she leads coach recruitment and retention strategies, oversees operational excellence, and drives industry engagement through strategic outreach and partnerships.
What was the process to build USTA Coaching? Was there certain data or another federation/sporting organization that showed the need to create a program? Or an “a-ha” moment?
The USTA introduced the 35×35 strategy with the goal of increasing participation in tennis in the United States to 35 million players by 2035. In order to achieve this goal, we need to create and scale programming that keeps new and returning players on the court, maximize court availability to keep pace with participation, and finally, expand the availability of quality coaching at all levels. USTA Coaching was created to support the third pillar of this strategy.
Through research and conversations with coaches, parents, and players, it became clear that the coaching system needed to be more inclusive, modern, and connected. We knew that reaching 35 million players would only be possible if we created an accessible platform that invests in the people who deliver the game every day, while also supporting new coaches as they enter, grow, and thrive in the sport. More great coaches at every level, from parents to local volunteers to high-performance teaching professionals, are the most straightforward path to growing participation in tennis at scale.
The WTA is building a community of more female coaches but men still dominate the field. How can USTA Coaching help bridge that gap?
We are working closely with experts and research partners to better understand the data surrounding the barriers that keep women from entering and also most importantly, keep them from staying in the profession. That work is essential to helping us identify where resources should be directed to create long-term, systemic change.
Our approach includes building cohort-based and mentorship programs, supporting pipeline development for girls and women starting in high school and college, and ensuring that female coaches are highlighted and celebrated for greater visibility. We’re also focused on working directly with facilities to encourage policies promoting retention and supporting coaches of all types. We aim to build a more inclusive coaching ecosystem that removes barriers and supports the long-term sustainability of careers for female coaches.
Do you have specific goals/timelines for USTA Coaching? Are there any metrics that your team notes as a success or areas to improve?
USTA Coaching is designed to be a long-term investment in the future of tennis, not a one-time initiative. It’s a commitment to building a stronger, more connected coaching community over time.
Our focus is on meaningful engagement. We’re looking at how coaches interact with the platform, what resources they find valuable, and where we can offer more support. Most importantly, we are listening. This program and platform will continue to evolve based on feedback from the coaching community to ensure we are meeting their needs and helping them thrive in a changing tennis landscape.
Are there requirements to be part of the program? How can someone interested join?
There are no requirements to join at the entry level. Anyone can visit USTACoaching.com, take a short quiz, and see which learning pathway and benefits package is right for them. It’s designed to be transparent, flexible, and welcoming regardless of the type of coach you are or want to be. The entry point to the platform is our Baseline package, which is free and provides basic access to education and benefits. The main requirement to select the Rally ($49), Pro ($149), or Pro Plus ($249) package is Safe Play approval.
Because you’ve been a top player, college coach and have built an impressive resume behind-the-scenes within the business side of the sport, you offer a really unique perspective. Where do you see the WTA right now as they navigate growth while encountering societal roadblocks? Is there a path you’d like to see them attempt, like an eventual merger with the ATP?
The WTA is a great organization, and they were very supportive of me throughout my tennis career. As a strong partner of the USTA today, we want to continue to work in partnership via USTA Coaching to inspire more female coaches to pursue a career in coaching.
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports |
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