Playing tennis almost all year, hopping from one country to another, can really wear players down. Even World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz admits the grind is brutal. “We don’t have such, you know, good period of time that we can practice, we can rest,” he said. Stars like Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz have all voiced their frustration. But Felix Auger-Aliassime doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he even seems to be enjoying it, and now, he’s getting some support.

Recently, the Tennis Letter shared a post on X quoting Felix Auger-Aliassime, who called out players for not enjoying the professional tennis tour. “I don’t know how guys don’t enjoy it. I think they lost perspective completely… If you want to play less tournaments, stay home. Nobody’s forcing you to be here,” said the Canadian.

The post got a nod from Spanish former pro Feliciano Lopez Diaz-Guerra, who replied with a GIF of Leonardo DiCaprio clapping while looking impressed that had the words, “WELL DONE,” typed on it, clearly giving Felix Auger-Aliassime his stamp of approval.

Although some may believe that players can skip events, the tour has stringent regulations that make it difficult to miss tournaments. The 2025 ATP Rulebook states that elite athletes are subject to “player commitment” duties. Over the course of 52 weeks, they must participate in a minimum of 18 tournaments, which must include four Grand Slams, eight Masters 1000 events (Monte Carlo is optional), and additional competitions.

Five appearances are required for the 2025 ATP 500 events. Players who fail to fulfill these obligations, such as missing a mandatory 500 event, will have their ranking points deducted. The likes of even Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka incurred those point penalties this season.

When Felix Auger-Aliassime was further asked about the physical and mental toll on players because of this scheduling, he explained his positive perspective. “I don’t know how guys don’t enjoy it, to be honest. I think they lost perspective completely. I get that you can get tired. I’m tired, too. I do trips around and I go see different circumstances around the world. I mean, we’re just lucky and blessed,” he said.

Auger-Aliassime added, “Every day I wake up and I enjoy. I enjoy that I’m here. Even if I lose matches, it’s okay, I’m pissed for a day. I don’t know. If you want to play less tournaments, stay home. Nobody’s forcing you to be here.”

For someone who recently got married and is still balancing personal life with the tour, a factor that could affect training or scheduling, he seems unfazed. Auger-Aliassime is convinced that the tough tour is something to enjoy, but not all the players share his view.

Tennis’ year-round schedule pushes players to the limit

The tennis calendar has led to many elite players being victims of the unstopping grind. “It’s a calendar thing,” Iga Swiatek said, pointing out the strain. “We’re not going to be able to be consistent for many years playing week by week.” On possibly skipping mandatory tournaments, she added, “Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory … It’s impossible to squeeze it in the schedule … We have to … think what’s healthy for us.” It is clear that this tension is not only mental, but also physical, and other people experience it in the same way.

Taylor Fritz also criticized the schedule, claiming, “There’s a new rule … you have to play a certain number of 500 events … or they put a zero on your record,” he said. It makes the longer Masters 1000 events more exhausting due to limited rest. Alexander Zverev also called out this hectic schedule,  “I’m not a fan of where this is going.” The question now arises: what can be done to make this calendar better?

The United Cup in Australia on December 27 marked the beginning of the 2025 season. It’s understandable that players feel overworked, given that the year is nearly completely booked. There have been suggestions for solutions, such as moving lower-tier tournaments like the ATP 250 and WTA 250 events to the beginning or end of the calendar to relieve mid-year pressure and ending the season earlier, ideally after the US Open or ATP/WTA Finals.

But implementing these changes isn’t simple. Rules requiring 18+ tournaments for ATP players (and similar WTA loads) make the grind unavoidable, unless organizers rethink the system entirely.

Novak Djokovic has long been outspoken about the issue. He said, “In the end, as a player and someone that has been playing on the highest level for more than 20 years, I can say that the players are not united enough. Players are not participating enough when they should be. So they make the comments and they complain, and then they go away.”

He explained that it is crucial to comprehend how the system functions, take part in councils, and advocate for coordinated changes, like he’s doing with the PTPA. Players will still be under pressure from a schedule that seems to be more about pushing boundaries than preserving careers if they don’t actively participate.