Tennis as a sport can be both mentally and physically exhausting for the players. While the players get to visit places across the globe which can understandably spark envy in some, a change in weather, sleep cycle, and other factors may sometimes take a toll on their health. Many players and coaches have voiced their opinions on the repercussions of extensive tennis schedule – often suggesting the tour should be short. Jannik Sinner, the current no. 1, joined the fray with a comment that drew more criticism than apprciation. Roger Federer‘s ex-coach is the latest one to oppose Sinner views highlighting the huge gap in game between top-ranked and lower-ranked players.

In his comment, Jannik Sinner acknowledged the large number of tournaments but emphasized that players still have control over their participation. “The schedule is quite long these years. But as players, we can still choose what to play and what not to play,” Sinner said in September. He added, “Obviously we have some mandatory events, yes. But you don’t have to play in a tournament. If you want, you can play. If not, you don’t play.”

However, Paul Annacone, Roger Federer’s former coach, offered a more nuanced take. In the recent episode of the Tennis Channel Live podcast, Paul Annacone suggested that while Sinner’s statement is true, it is not that simple for every players to fulfill commitments. While top players like Jannik Sinner can afford to skip events and focus on rest, lower-ranked players often face a different reality.

“One thing I loved is Jannik Sinner basically saying, Yeah, it’s a lot of tennis. There’s too many tournaments. But if you don’t want to play, don’t play. Obviously, it’s easier when you’re one in the world, but if you’re right around the cusp of making year-end championships, of trying to do stuff where you’re trying to meet commitments in terms of team, sponsorship, partners, things like that. It’s very difficult to figure out when not to play. So it’s not cut and dry as if you don’t want to play, don’t play. But the structure is really fractured, and always has been,” said Annacone while stirring the reality of the tennis world.

Annacone is not the only one who has raised concerns over the ongoing debate surrounding it. French tennis pro, Ugo Humbert also came ahead and weighed his 2 cents on the whole situation.

Ugo Humbert also criticizes Jannik Sinner’s take on the whole scheduling saga

Ugo Humbert, ranked outside the top 10, highlighted the struggles faced by athletes in lower ranks.

Humbert expressed his frustration over the packed tennis calendar saying, “There is no other sport where you only have one month off. I will finish my season right after Metz and will leave a month later for the United Cup, starting on December 27. I won’t even be able to spend Christmas at home.” He further added, “I hear some people, like Jannik Sinner, say that you can choose not to play, but they are not thinking clearly… When you are ranked 50 or 60 in the world, you try to play as much as you can to climb in the rankings,” he said.

It’s not just the lower-ranked players who feel the pain of a lengthy tour. Big guns including Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have also talked about the strain that accompanies the tennis calendar.

What are your thoughts on tennis schedule? Let us know in the comments below!