Jessica Pegula to Lead Panel for Major Women's Tennis Calendar Overhaul
American tennis star Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, has been appointed to chair a new 13-person panel tasked with proposing significant reforms to the women's tennis calendar. The initiative, announced by WTA Tour chair Valerie Camillo in a letter to players and tournament officials, aims to address long-standing concerns over the sport's demanding schedule, which has been linked to increased injuries and player burnout.
Addressing an 'Insane' Schedule
The move follows years of complaints from both male and female tennis professionals regarding the current structure, which features an excessively long season, a truncated off-season, and other pressures. In her letter, Camillo stated that the newly formed Tour Architecture Council will submit its recommendations to the WTA Board, with the goal of implementing a revised framework by 2027. "There has been a clear sentiment across the Tour that the current calendar does not feel sustainable for players given the physical, professional, and personal pressures of competing at the highest level," Camillo wrote.
Camillo, who assumed her role in November, emphasized that the council will initially focus on areas where the WTA has direct authority to drive change, while also identifying longer-term opportunities requiring broader coordination with the ATP men's tour and the four Grand Slam tournaments. "We are very open to looking broadly at a host of potential solutions to this. The idea is: We go in there with a very open mind and open dialogue," Camillo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We're not going to solve the entire world immediately... We want to be timely, we want to be focused on making an immediate impact."
Pegula's Leadership and Player Perspectives
Pegula, a 31-year-old American currently ranked world No. 5, brings a unique perspective as a top player and is widely respected for her thoughtful, collaborative approach. Last year, she highlighted the sport's rigours, stating: "It's one of the toughest sports, just when you combine, not just the physicality of it, but the schedule, the loneliness, the mental side, how tough it is to go out there and compete, week-in and week-out, by yourself."
The strain on players was recently underscored by the withdrawals of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek from this week's WTA event in Dubai. In January, during a pre-Australian Open tournament, Sabalenka indicated plans to skip some tour stops "to protect my body", adding that "the season is definitely insane."
Council Composition and Broader Implications
Alongside Pegula, the council includes active players such as Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, a two-time Australian Open champion; Maria Sakkari of Greece, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist; and Katie Volynets of the US. The panel also features Camillo, WTA CEO Portia Archer, three other tour officials, agent Anja Vreg, tournament organiser Bob Moran, Asia-Pacific representative Laura Ceccarelli, and Alastair Garland from Octagon Tennis.
This comprehensive group aims to balance player welfare with the sport's commercial and competitive demands, potentially setting a precedent for similar reforms in men's tennis and other professional sports. The council's work is expected to involve detailed analysis of ranking points regulations, mandatory event participation, and the overall calendar structure, with a focus on sustainability and athlete health.
