Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. As we approach the end of the tennis season, there’s a lot to discuss and some exciting trends to highlight.
The tennis season is almost over, but there are still several prestigious tournaments left to play. The most important ones are the Masters 1000 in Shanghai and Paris-Bercy, as well as the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. The season will be closed by the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, giving players a well-deserved rest after a very long year. 
In the last week, strong criticism of the ATP calendar has returned. During the Laver Cup, four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz argued that the season is too long and that players run a high risk of injury. His words have generated much debate and were also endorsed by Alexander Zverev and Jack Draper, while world number 1 Jannik Sinner has taken a more moderate approach to the issue. 
While it is certainly true that the tennis season is among the longest considering all sports, some experts have criticized players for participating in several exhibitions during the year. Alcaraz—just to give an example—played the Laver Cup in Berlin and will be one of the stars of the ‘Six Kings Slam’ next month in Saudi Arabia.
Different views on the ATP calendar have been expressed by various players. Taylor Fritz recently shared his perspective: “I agree that it’s hard for the ATP to shorten the calendar while seeing top players participating in exhibitions on their off weeks. I have seen many criticize players who call for changes in the calendar and then compete in these unofficial events, but I don’t understand that argument because exhibitions have nothing to do with competing in an ATP event in terms of physical and mental demands.” 
Stefanos Tsitsipas has also weighed in on the matter, proposing a restructured calendar and the use of new technologies to protect players’ health and raise competition levels. “A restructured calendar and the use of new technologies would not only protect the health of players but also raise the level of competition,” he said. “More rest means better tennis, which generates more enthusiasm among fans.” Tsitsipas even suggested a rotating system for smaller tournaments to avoid constant travel. He also proposed portable devices that record athletes’ fatigue, which could help predict injuries or determine when rest is needed. However, his post was later deleted after it was revealed he used artificial intelligence to write it. 
These debates highlight the complexities of modern tennis and the need for continuous improvement. As we look forward to future seasons, it’s clear that the game is evolving, with initiatives like the Pacific Women and Girls in Tennis – Emerging Leaders workshop aiming to foster a more inclusive community within the sport. This workshop brought together eleven talented women from the Pacific region to learn, grow, and connect with each other, part of Tennis Australia’s broader mission to empower women and girls in tennis.
In high school tennis, there are exciting trends too The Ohio Tennis Zone has been tracking top players and their performances throughout the state. Check out the latest rankings and news from Ohio high school tennis—it’s like a mini-tennis tournament right here in America Players like Ivy Berlin, Makenzie Fearon, Isabel Fusonie, Renee Harper, and Genevieve Hayden are making waves in Ohio high school tennis. If you’re interested in following their journey, be sure to check out the latest updates on the Ohio Tennis Zone website.
These trends show that tennis is not just about professional players; it’s also about the grassroots level where the next generation of stars is emerging. As we celebrate these developments, we also acknowledge that there’s still much work to be done to improve our sport.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
###