One tournament after another
Star player speaks of “madness” in the tennis calendar
January 8, 2026 – 8:51 a.mReading time: 1 min.
The new tennis season starts. There are many tournaments coming up – too many, says Aryna Sabalenka. She even announces that she wants to leave some things out.
Aryna Sabalenka found clear words at the start of the new tennis season. The world number one questioned the full calendar and announced that she would not take part in all compulsory tournaments despite the threat of sanctions.
“The season is definitely crazy and that’s not good for all of us, as you can see because so many players are getting injured,” Sabalenka said at the tournament in Brisbane. The four-time Grand Slam winner also spoke of “pretty heavy” balls that put additional strain on the body.
Although the regulations require participation in the so-called compulsory tournaments, the 25-year-old wants to set priorities: “The rules are pretty tricky with the compulsory tournaments, but I’m skipping a few events to protect my body because I suffered a lot last season.” This season she wants to “manage a little better, even if they punish me.”
Sabalenka also sharply criticized the associations. They would only pursue their own interests. “But they’re not focused on keeping us all safe.”
Carlos Alcaraz also recently mentioned the high level of stress in tennis. The men’s world number one still takes part in show fights such as the duel against Jannik Sinner in South Korea – just a few days before the start of the Australian Open.