Novak Djokovic Criticizes Player Disunity Over Rigorous Tennis Calendar

Novak Djokovic has reiterated his longstanding call for reforming the tennis calendar, emphasizing that despite over 15 years of discussion, players are still not united enough to bring meaningful change. He criticized players for complaining about the demanding schedule but not investing the necessary time and energy themselves to push for reform, urging top players to "roll up their sleeves and really care." The issue gained renewed attention after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters to rest, and other top players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek voiced their frustrations over the congested tournament schedule. Djokovic, who has deliberately reduced his playing schedule to prolong his career, highlighted the complexity of the problem and stressed that individual efforts without unity among players are insufficient for systemic change. The tennis calendar remains packed with numerous mandatory events, contributing to player burnout and withdrawals, prompting calls for a more balanced approach to player welfare. Djokovic's comments reflect a broader consensus among leading players about the need for change, but also underline the challenges in achieving collective action within the sport.