As the years have gone by, it feels like things only ever get added to the tennis calendar, whilst nothing is taken away.
That may not be strictly true, but the increase in events played year on year is undeniable.
Such is the cost of elite-level tennis, the desire to usurp rivals in the rankings has seen competition reach an all-time high. For some, this is just a necessary evil, but others are opting to call this out.
However, whilst one solution has been suggested, it will take someone really brave to actually put this plan in motion.
Andy Roddick reacts to tennis boycott rumours
It feels like this notion of purposely missing events only really gained traction when John McEnroe called on players to boycott Grand Slams to get what they want.
Since then, plenty have weighed in on the subject.
Alexander Zverev admitted that boycotting was not an option, seeking to play down the claims of the American, but Andy Roddick has since jumped to his compatriot’s defence to justify his claims.
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, he claimed: ‘Zverev was all ‘We can’t boycott, other players will replace us’. I’m going to let you guys in. World Tour finals, responsible for like a very very very significant part of their revenue, and you’re not putting anyone else out of a job.
‘It’s not like you’re boycotting the US Open and someone 90 in the world isn’t getting their $100,000 loser first-round paycheck, right? Are they going to replace your World Tour finals with someone who didn’t qualify for the World Tour finals? That sounds like a fun marketing campaign.’
What players have complained about the tennis schedule?
At this point, there is a litany of high-profile figures from within the tennis world who have come out to complain about the amount of physical scrutiny they are being forced to put on their bodies.
Iga Swiatek has vocally condemned the schedule, and even floated the idea of taking a break from the sport purely due to the stress it induces.
Carlos Alcaraz has also complained about the amount of matches they play, as he noted: ‘As I said many times, the schedule in tennis is really tight. There are a lot of tournaments I love to play. But sometimes I can’t do it. Last year this was the case for me. Missing the Davis Cup. But this year I’m really excited about it. It’s a really special feeling for me.’
It seems like nothing will ever really change unless something terrible happens, or someone takes a stand and boycotts like McEnroe suggested.
It’ll be interesting to see which comes first.
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