Already last season we heard various complaints by players on both the men’s and women’s tour about the tough schedule. Now it continues with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka that has launched quite tough critique of the current pro tennis calendar, labelling the season “insane” and declaring her intention to skip some mandatory events in 2026 to prioritise her health.
Speaking after her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Sorana Cirstea at the Brisbane International on Thursday, the four-time Grand Slam champion made it clear that she is prepared to face heavy fines and even ranking point deductions, rather than risk further injury problems.
Sabalenka’s comments come amid growing unrest among the tour’s elite. Under current WTA rules, top players are required to compete in 21 mandatory events: the four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 tournaments and six WTA 500 events.
“The season is definitely insane, and that’s not good for all of us, as you see so many players getting injured,” Sabalenka told reporters. “The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I’m still skipping a couple of events in order to protect my body, because I struggled a lot last season.”
A Pattern of Penalties
This is not a theoretical threat. In 2025, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek both incurred ranking point penalties for failing to meet the minimum requirement of six WTA 500 events.
Despite her consistency in 2025, which saw her capture her fourth major title at the US Open and finish the year at the top of the rankings, Sabalenka admitted the toll was nearly unbearable.
“Some of the tournaments I played completely sick, or I was really exhausted from overplaying. This season we will try to manage it a little bit better, even though they are going to fine me by the end of the season.”
Frustration among players
Sabalenka is far from alone in her frustration. The late-season “Asian Swing” in 2025 became a flashpoint for tennis, as top stars like Iga Swiatek, Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz, and Coco Gauff all raised alarms about the length of the 11-month season. We also saw a rise in retirements due to injuries, and the debate on the tough schedule took off even more.
Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren’t supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I’m proud to be apart of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna…
— jack draper (@jackdraper0) October 18, 2025
While the WTA has previously stated that athlete welfare is a “top priority” and pointed to increased compensation and player council consultations, the exodus of top player from mandatory draws continues.
What’s Next for the World No. 1?
For now, Sabalenka remains focused on her immediate goal: a third title in four years at the Australian Open. She will face Madison Keys in the Brisbane quarterfinals, a rematch of last year’s Melbourne final, as she fine-tunes her game for the first Slam of the year.
Sabalenka also said the strong field in Brisbane makes it the ideal warmup event for the Australian Open.
Want to know more about Sabalenka’s racquet?
