Elena Rybakina becomes latest star to call for major change in grueling tennis calendar, but not only for players

Elena Rybakina became the latest high-profile tennis player to criticize the sport's yearly calendar. In recent months and years, several stars from both the ATP and WTA sides, including the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Iga Swiatek have suggested that the calendar is far too demanding for players and exposes them to physical and mental burnout.

In a recent interview with Sportilinet.kz on the back of her emphatic title triumph at the year-end 2025 WTA Finals, Rybakina called for a change to the existing tennis calendar. According to the Kazakh, doing so would allow players to approach tournaments more comfortably and perform at their best without compromising on their physical and mental health.

"I think the calendar needs to be changed. Not just for us, to make things more comfortable in terms of schedule," she said.

However, Elena Rybakina, a former World No. 3 currently ranked fifth in the WTA Tour's singles rankings, also opined that a change in the schedule would benefit fans of the sport.

"But also for the fans, to make things easier," the Kazakh added.

Rybakina, an 11-time career singles titlist and the 2022 Wimbledon champion, had also touched on the issue last year.

"We are forced to compete in too many tournaments" - Elena Rybakina at Madrid Open 2024

Elena Rybakina during a press conference at the 2024 Madrid Open (Source: Getty)

During a press conference at last year's edition of the Madrid Open, where she finished as a semifinalist, Elena Rybakina spoke out against the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome being turned into two-week events, both of which take place in the buildup to the prestigious French Open.

"It may make sense for Indian Wells and Miami to have that duration, but to do it in these two events, shortly before Roland Garros... With the new rules there is no room to choose, we are forced to compete in too many tournaments," she said.

The Kazakh was also critical of the mandatory rules that require players to participate in a fixed number of events, failing which they are deducted ranking points.

"With the new rule of change, we have a lot of mandatory stuff where you cannot really choose and pick what you want to play, because, I mean, at some point it's fair enough that people choose what they want to play or not, because if the tour is good for everyone, then people will want to play," Rybakina added.

The World No. 5 is currently in Dubai, where she has already started her preparations for the 2026 tennis season.