Sat May 31 14:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

Alex de Minaur lost to Alexander Bublik at the French Open and criticized the grueling tennis calendar, warning of player burnout. He advocates for a shorter season to prevent players’ careers from being cut short. Casper Ruud also echoed these concerns, stating the ATP’s ranking system forces players to compete injured for fear of losing ranking points and bonuses.

**News Article:**

**De Minaur and Ruud Slam “Grueling” Tennis Schedule, Warning of Player Burnout**

**Paris, France** – Alex de Minaur’s second-round exit from the French Open wasn’t just a loss on the court; it was a catalyst for renewed criticism of the demanding professional tennis calendar. Following his defeat to Alexander Bublik, De Minaur spoke out against the relentless schedule, arguing that the current structure leads to player burnout and potentially shortens careers.

“The solution is simple: You shorten the schedule,” De Minaur stated, pointing out the near-constant cycle of competition with little downtime. “What’s going to happen is players’ careers are going to get shorter and shorter because they’re just going to burn out mentally. There’s just too much tennis.”

De Minaur’s concerns were echoed by Casper Ruud, who also suffered a shock early exit from the tournament. Ruud described the ATP’s ranking system as a “rat race” that compels players to compete in mandatory events even when injured. He explained that players risk significant ranking point and bonus deductions if they skip these events, effectively forcing them to play through pain.

“You’re forcing players to show up injured or sick or whatever, when that’s not what I think is very fair,” Ruud said, highlighting the pressure to maintain ranking and financial stability. Players’ year-end bonuses are cut by 25% if they miss a mandatory event.

Ruud added that he had been struggling with knee pain.

The ATP has been contacted for comment on the players’ concerns. The debate surrounding the tennis calendar’s impact on player health and longevity is likely to continue as top athletes increasingly voice their discontent with the current system.

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