Emma Raducanu has taken a different stance from many players who often complain about the busy and lengthy tennis schedule. She criticized her fellow players for “moaning” about the Tour calendar.
Players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, Jack Draper, Madison Keys, and Taylor Fritz have expressed their concerns regarding the demanding nature of the tennis calendar, noting that it leads to player fatigue and injuries.
Emma Raducanu Opens Up About Hectic Tennis Calendar, Contradicts Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek’s Remarks
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Raducanu discussed the demanding tournament schedule and the criticism it has received from players. She mentioned that competing in almost all the tournaments throughout the season is a “challenge.” However, she believes it is not something to complain about, as the players earn a “great living” from it.
The former world No. 10 also admitted that the hectic tour schedule can be “mentally” and “physically” taxing at times.
“I think that’s a challenge. I don’t necessarily think it’s something to complain about because it’s what we are given. And we are making a great living as well. I mean it’s not all glamorous. There are definitely times when it’s very difficult and we are flagging mentally, physically, everything hurts,” Raducanu said.
Raducanu expressed that when top players complain about their demanding schedules, it is not “inspiring” for fans and does not set a positive example for younger generations who aspire to enter the sport.
“But at the same time what are we going to do about it? I am sure there are certain people who go to work and their bosses make them do something, but they have to do it, it’s their job. If we put up a front that isn’t complaining, I think that is a better example to the people watching, trying to get into tennis, the younger people. If they see all the top players moaning about the calendar, I don’t think that’s necessarily inspiring to look up to,” she added.
This year, Raducanu’s notable achievements included reaching the semifinals at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., and advancing to the quarterfinals at the Miami Open and the Queen’s Club Championships. Looking ahead, she will begin her 2026 tennis season by representing Team Great Britain at the United Cup.
What Were Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek’s Comments on the Hectic Tennis Calendar?
While discussing the demanding schedule of the tour, Alcaraz criticized the governing bodies, suggesting that their current schedule is pushing players to the brink and that they are probably trying to “kill” them. The world No. 1 expressed that there are times he feels too tired to compete in specific tournaments, and doesn’t feel “motivated” to play.
“Probably they are going to kill us in some way. A lot of good players are going to miss a lot of tournaments because of injury. Sometimes, you don’t want to go to a tournament. I’m not going to lie – I have felt this way a few times already. Sometimes I don’t feel motivated at all,” Alcaraz said.
Similarly, Świątek voiced her concerns regarding the lengthy schedule. She pointed out that as the season progresses, players become increasingly fatigued, especially in the latter half of the year. She also mentioned that players need to be strategic in selecting the tournaments they wish to participate in, prioritizing what is best for their health.
“Obviously the season is long. The second part of it I think people are more fatigued. I don’t think any top player will actually be able to achieve this, for example, playing the six 500 tournaments. It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule. I think we have to be smart about it, not really unfortunately care about the rules and just think what’s healthy for us. Yeah, it’s tough,” Świątek said.
This year, Alcaraz concluded his season with eight titles, including two Grand Slam titles: the 2025 French Open and the US Open. On the other hand, Świątek secured three titles during the season, including the 2025 Wimbledon Championship.