Inside the epidemic of serious injuries in young tennis players
- Teodora Jovic
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
A young aspiring tennis player starts making waves in the tennis world, only to get hit with a serious injury that brings them to a screeching halt. It's a tale as old as time, yet it seems to be happening more frequently. Why is this so?
Most recently, 22-year-old Holger Rune, who sits at No.15 in the ATP rankings, suffered a terrible Achilles injury during his semi-final at the Stockholm Open. He could not continue playing and, in tears, had to concede the match. Later on, he revealed that he had completely ruptured his left Achilles tendon, and a long recovery period was to follow. Achilles ruptures can have a recovery period of up to a year.
Many players leapt to support Rune and voiced their concerns about the excruciating schedule that many blame for the influx of injuries.
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23-year-old Jack Draper, who is the current world No.10, is also battling a left arm injury with a bone bruise in his humerus. This injury ended his 2025 season and forced him to withdraw from the 2025 US Open.
He posted on X: "Injuries are going to happen… we are pushing our bodies to do things they aren't supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I'm proud to be a part of that, however, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are gonna achieve some sort of longevity…."
Zheng Qinwen, 23, the current WTA No.24, is also battling a recurring elbow injury. She was forced to retire during just her second match after her comeback from elbow surgery at the China Open earlier in October.
"I said this before the match. I'm not playing at 100 per cent… I'm playing with pain, but the pain should be manageable," Zheng stated post-match, exemplifying how young players are being forced to play through pain, putting their bodies and health on the line.
The length of both the WTA and ATP schedules has come under fire for forcing players to spend the vast majority of the year on tour. Recent rules surrounding mandatory tournaments and hitting specific playing quotas are forcing players to spend more time on the road and on court than ever before. It is undeniable that the excruciating length of the tour is contributing to a rapid rise in serious injuries in young tennis players, as players are denied the chance to properly recover and prepare. The increase of all types of injuries, especially overuse and repetitive trauma injuries, is a direct result of the overall intense schedule.
Last year, after a breakthrough season, Donna Vekić stated: "The schedule is absolutely brutal. When you compare it to other sports that have an actual offseason -- we have, what, a month, a month and a half? You don't even have time to relax, get rest, before you have to start training again… I'm not sure it will change, but it's very unhealthy."
However, there are also other factors to consider in this epidemic of injuries. One of these is the technological advances that all facets of tennis have undergone. Whilst developments in racquet and string materials, court surfaces, and even tennis balls are impacting the way the game is played at a consistently stronger level, they are forcing players' bodies to handle higher forces. The pressure of all these factors starts at a young age, forcing the developing child and teenage players' bodies to have to adapt and handle more pressure while in pivotal growing years, which has detrimental effects on players' bodies.
Young players then grow up with these niggling injuries that eventually are exacerbated and turn into something more sinister as they progress onto the strenuous professional tour.
One specific factor that players have been vocal about is the tennis balls used on tour constantly changing, and their impact on significant shoulder, arm, and wrist injuries in players.
"There is certainly a connection between frequent injuries of the wrist, elbow and shoulder with ball changes… I am absolutely in favour of choosing one ball with which we will play all ATP tournaments," Djokovic quoted to Sportal in early 2024.
The intensity of the powerful, aggressive modern game, undergoing constant technological developments, paired with the year-long schedule, is hand-in-hand playing a part in injuries.
A commonly overlooked injury factor is improper technique. At a young age, tennis players learn from a variety of different coaches or prompts, and this initial technique is typically what sticks in their games throughout their whole careers. Things such as extreme grips, postures, and footwork can all negatively impact a young athlete from a young age, contributing greatly to the high prevalence of injury when coupled with strenuous schedules and technological advances. It can be very difficult for a developed player to change their technique or undo the years of muscle memory and overuse developed from poor technique.
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Another factor to consider is the overall development of young tennis players. Many talented and promising young players have heavy training schedules that include on and off-court work with coaches, physiotherapists, and strength coaches. The increased prevalence of attending academies tailored to all facets of development in a package deal is also important to note.
While these factors can contribute to advanced progress in a youngster's performance and career, they can also put too much pressure on a young, developing body and mind. The best age and time for a young athlete to begin weight training, or even a full on-court training block, has divided professionals in the field studying the long-term effects of athletes implementing professional workloads at a young age. But with the prevalence of these extreme injuries in rising players, how young is too young to fully push the limits of the body before it breaks?
The issue of injuries in young tennis players is a serious one. Many factors are to blame, including strenuous schedules, technological advancements, and the developmental phase of young players. But one question that needs answering is how we can change the culture and help alleviate this issue.
Our young players are suffering, and for the good of the game, solutions need to be created to change the culture and help prevent injuries in young tennis players for good.
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