Elena Rybakina has become the latest high-profile player to demand a major overhaul of the tennis calendar ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, warning that the current schedule places an unsustainable burden on athletes and risks compromising the integrity of Grand Slam events.
Rybakina's proposal for a revised schedule
The former Wimbledon champion, speaking after her third-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, proposed that the tour should consider shifting the grass-court season earlier or extending the gap between Wimbledon and the Olympics to allow players adequate recovery time. 'The current calendar is not sustainable for the players, especially with the Olympics now falling in the middle of the summer hard-court swing,' she said.
Rybakina's comments come as the sport's governing bodies face increasing pressure to address the congested schedule, which in 2028 will see the Olympic tennis event run from July 29 to August 6, just two weeks after the Wimbledon final. The 25-year-old Kazakh player argued that the quick turnaround would force players to choose between representing their country and preparing for the North American hard-court season.
Impact on players and Grand Slams
The 2028 calendar, as currently planned, features the French Open in late May, Wimbledon in early July, and the Olympics in late July, followed immediately by the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open before the US Open. Rybakina noted that this compressed timeline leaves little room for rest and adaptation to different surfaces, increasing the risk of injury and burnout.
She also highlighted the potential knock-on effect on the quality of tennis at the major tournaments, as players may arrive fatigued or underprepared. 'We want to give our best at the Slams and the Olympics, but with this schedule, something has to give,' she added.
Calls for change grow louder
Rybakina is not alone in voicing these concerns. Several top players, including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and former No. 1 Naomi Osaka, have previously called for a more player-friendly calendar. The ATP and WTA tours have commissioned a review of the 2028 schedule, with a report expected by the end of the year.
While no formal changes have been announced, Rybakina's public stance adds to the mounting pressure on the International Tennis Federation and the Grand Slam Board to find a solution that balances the demands of the tour with the prestige of the Olympic event.
