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

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.

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.

Former 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.

“They are required to play the nine Masters 1000 events and the four Grand Slams. That’s their commitment: 13 tournaments. They should schedule the rest of their year around that."

Asked whether players outside the very top tier are compelled to keep competing simply to earn ranking points and prize money, Amritraj remained unconvinced.

“No, absolutely not," he said.

“If you decide to play ATP 250s or 500s for appearance money, or if you play exhibitions during the off-season, that’s your choice. Players do it for a variety of reasons, with financial reasons obviously foremost in their minds."

He believes the sport already offers enough flexibility for the game’s biggest names.

“You could easily take two months off, come back well-rested and well-prepared for the first Grand Slam in Australia."

For Amritraj, the responsibility ultimately lies with the players themselves rather than the calendar.

“If you have that luxury because you’re good enough to be winning Masters 1000 events and Grand Slams, then the choice is entirely yours. It is entirely, entirely up to the top players to decide how they want to manage their schedules."

Catch Wimbledon 2026, from June 29 – July 12, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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