Are Tennis Players Really Overworked? Vijay Amritraj Rejects Scheduling Blame For Injury Crisis

Published 27 June 2026 · sports

Are Tennis Players Really Overworked? Vijay Amritraj Rejects Scheduling Blame For Injury Crisis Reported By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 15:12 IST As tennis debates

Are Tennis Players Really Overworked? Vijay Amritraj Rejects Scheduling Blame For Injury Crisis Reported By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 15:12 IST As tennis debates player workload ahead of Wimbledon, Vijay Amritraj says elite stars already control their schedules. Rapid Read Carlos Alcaraz is not ready to take to the court yet, aiming to return for the US hardcourt season. (Getty Images: Quality Sport Images/Alvaro Medranda) As Wimbledon approaches, the conversation around tennis isn’t just about title favourites or dark horses. Instead, player workload and the relentless tour calendar have once again taken centre stage. Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal due to injury is the latest high-profile setback in a season that has seen several leading players struggle with fitness issues. Multiple withdrawals ahead of Wimbledon have only intensified scrutiny of the sport’s demanding schedule. The debate has also gathered momentum off the court. Yesterday, Ben Shelton spoke out about how the tennis schedule is “unsustainable". Earlier this year, the WTA Tour pledged “meaningful improvements" to its calendar by 2027 after players criticised mandatory tournament rules and penalties for skipping events. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev recently suggested that only Grand Slams and ATP/WTA 1000 events should award ranking points, reducing the pressure on players to chase points at smaller tournaments.

Indian tennis great Vijay Amritraj, however, believes much of the conversation overlooks one crucial fact: elite players already have significant control over their schedules. “The Top Players Have Always Had a Choice" Speaking on JioStar Media Day ahead of Wimbledon 2026, JioStar expert Vijay Amritraj dismissed the notion that the calendar itself is the primary reason behind injuries among the sport’s biggest stars. “My thought process on this has been very simple over the years," he said. “The top 20 players have always had a choice. They’re independent contractors. If the top 20 players compete in 15 tournaments, that’s already a lot. That works out to roughly 22 weeks over a 52-week period." Drawing a comparison with previous generations, Amritraj pointed out that players during his era competed far more frequently. “If you go back in time, we were playing almost double that." While acknowledging that modern tennis is significantly more physical, he believes today’s elite stars are also better placed to manage their workload. “The game has become incredibly powerful, incredibly athletic and incredibly fitness-oriented. But the players still have the ability to take time off." “Your Tour Commitment Is 13 Tournaments" Amritraj also pushed back against the argument that ranking points and prize money force top players into an unsustainable schedule.