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Casper Ruud offers solution to issue Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev have raised concerns about

Posted: February 14, 2026 at 9:22 am   /   by   /   comments (0)
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Casper Ruud has become the latest top player to speak out about the demands of the tennis calendar.

It’s an issue that keeps coming up, and many players aren’t shy about letting people know how they feel.

They’re playing non-stop throughout the year, with very little time to rest. If they try to push back, they can end up facing penalties.

Ruud has been open about it before, but now he’s even floated a rough idea for how things could change.

Casper Ruud has an idea to fix the tennis calendar

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF

Ruud was speaking to Tennis Magazin when he was asked about Alexander Zverev’s criticisms of the current schedule. Zverev isn’t alone in his views – Iga Swiatek has also been very vocal about the issue.

In response, Ruud said: “I understand the criticism. The season is very demanding, especially mentally. But I also think that we need to find solutions that protect the health of the players without taking away their chances, especially the players from the lower ranks.”

He then followed up with some possible changes, saying: “Clearer breaks, a slightly shorter calendar and perhaps more flexibility for mandatory events. Recovery time should be seen as performance-enhancing, not a luxury.”

The Dane has only played two tournaments this year but performed well at {{AUSTRALIAN_OPEN}}, where he had just one defeat against Daniil Medvedev.

This came after a strong finish last season for Ruud, who looked on track to climb back into the top five rankings before injuries slowed his progress again.

Iga Swiatek’s issues with the tennis schedule

As mentioned before, Zverev is far from the only one who has spoken up about the tennis calendar, and it’s unlikely he’ll be the last.

This isn’t a new topic either. Complaints about the workload go back decades, and even though there have been small tweaks over time, it still doesn’t feel like there’s a real fix on the horizon.

Swiatek has made her stance clear before. Last year, she didn’t hold back: “Well, when I look at the schedule, I think we’re playing too much, and the schedule is crazy.

“That’s probably the first thing that will pop into my head. The schedule is really demanding and tough.”

A number of players have suggested ways to improve things, but so far neither ATP nor WTA changes have made much difference to how heavy the demands feel.

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