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World number nine Jack Draper has called for the ATP Tour to rethink its relentless schedule if young players are to enjoy long careers. The warning comes after 22-year-old Holger Rune suffered a suspected torn Achilles in Stockholm, joining a growing list of players sidelined late in the season. “Injuries are going to happen,” Draper said on social media. 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 “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… but the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are going to achieve some sort of longevity.” Burnout Everywhere The grueling 11-month season, which demands near-constant travel and competition, has taken its toll. Draper himself is nursing an arm injury that forced him out of last month’s U.S. Open. Several top women, including Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina, and Paula Badosa, have also been forced to cut tournaments short during the Asian swing. American Taylor Fritz, world number four, echoed Draper’s concerns: “Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before. Balls, courts, and conditions have slowed down a lot, making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body.” Stars Weigh In Women’s world number two Iga Swiatek admitted that reducing commitments might be the smartest option for her health, while men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz defended playing the Saudi Arabia exhibition, claiming it’s less mentally demanding than full-length tournaments. The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil) filed a lawsuit in March, calling the current schedule “unsustainable” and highlighting the need for meaningful reform in professional tennis. With injuries mounting and player burnout on the rise, the ATP faces mounting pressure to rethink how the calendar balances spectacle with sustainability. (with Reuters inputs)
