Elena Rybakina calls for major change to tennis that she thinks will help players and fans

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Elena Rybakina is currently looking ahead to the 2026 season, having already started her pre-season training.

Rybakina won three WTA titles in the 2025 season, including a superb success at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

That arrived earlier this month, with Rybakina defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final as she went undefeated throughout the week.

And the Kazakhstani star, who is now up to fifth in the world rankings, is wasting no time in getting ready for another season.

Elena Rybakina calls for major change to tennis

Rybakina does, however, have an issue with the WTA Tour that she feels needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Asked by Sport Schrodinger what changes she would like to see in tennis, she replied, translated from Russian: “I think the calendar needs to be changed.

“Not just for us, to make the schedule more comfortable, but also for the fans, to make it easier. This year, the BJK Finals were held in China.

“There were several teams, and it was a full-fledged, good tournament where people could come and see different players and different teams.”

Elena Rybakina confirms her schedule before the start of the 2026 season

The tennis calendar has indeed been a real issue across both the WTA Tour and ATP Tour for some time now.

Rybakina’s fellow WTA star Iga Swiatek called the schedule “crazy” earlier this season, with ATP number one Carlos Alcaraz claiming the calendar is “really tight” shortly after.

Alcaraz recently took action by withdrawing from the Davis Cup, while Rybakina has made a similar decision by withdrawing from next month’s World Tennis League.

Sharing her schedule before the 2026 season, she revealed: “I withdrew from the World Tennis League pre-season tournament in India.

“It’s been a long season, and if I’d played there, I’d have to start matches in India on the 17th. It’s completely rushed.

“Now I’ll be preparing in Dubai for four weeks, then an exhibition tournament in China, which is convenient for my trip to Australia. Then there’s Brisbane and the Australian Open.”

The 2026 WTA season starts with the United Cup in early January, closely followed by the Brisbane International.

Overall, among other events, it will feature 10 WTA 1000 tournaments, seven of which will comprise the 12-day format.