“Only Novak can play ten tournaments a year and be No 1” – Ruusuvuori on the effects of a demanding tennis schedule

Late nights, demanding schedules and the added rigours of regularly-changing conditions have become well-versed topics of conversation within tennis, especially this year.

As another long and gruelling season comes to an end this week in Malaga, with the Davis Cup Finals acting as the final curtain call for competitive action in 2023, the issue of scheduling, injuries and player burn-out are once again on the mind’s of players as they reach the end of the eleventh month of their season.

“What I can guarantee you 100% is that it doesn’t help at all that we are constantly changing conditions.”

Ruusuvuori on the frequently-changing conditions of the ATP Tour

Emil Ruusuvuori is one player for whom this topic is weighing heavily upon. Finland’s leading player at the Davis Cup Finals, Ruusuvuori was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team achieved an historic triumph against defending champions Canada in their first ever quarter-finals appearance.

“The amount of travel and playing time [is a big risk to injury], but with a ranking like mine that’s how this sport works,” Ruusuvuori told Spanish media, as he continues to nurse the shoulder injury that has kept him off court in Malaga so far.

“Only Novak can play ten tournaments a year and be No 1,” the Finn continued, smiling.

“For the rest of us, things are not so simple. We have to play a lot because there are many results that count, 19.

“The trips, the balls, all that influences. Everyone says they would like to play less, but we end up playing almost every week. This is how we have to do it, that’s what the circuit pushes us to do.

“What I can guarantee you 100% is that it doesn’t help at all that we are constantly changing conditions.

“I also have to take a look at my schedule with the team, put together a schedule in which I can play two weeks with the same ball, because if you change every week, you are taking too much risk.”

Finland take on Australia in the nation’s maiden Davis Cup semi-finals tie, after last year’s runners-up completed an excellent comeback to dash the hopes of a young but promising Czech Republic team.

It remains to be seen whether Finland’s star player will be fit enough to take to the court.

But this has become a recurring trope throughout the 2023 season, as players repeatedly call for fewer ball changes to help ease the long list of varying conditions they have to deal with week-to-week.

Tournament balls are often determined by sponsors, and as different events have different sponsors, ball changes between competitions remain frequent.

As another long and arduous year on tour comes to a conclusion, however, many will hope now is the time for the various governing bodies of tennis to take a step back and look at what can be done to alleviate some of the concerns of players, before the grind of a new season kicks into gear again in January.

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