Lower-ranked tennis players feel the weight of a long season

French tennis player Terence Atmane admitted he has been struggling with his mental health after an outburst at the Shanghai Masters this month. During a qualifying match, Atmane threw his racket into the stands and nearly hit spectators. He publicly apologised for his behaviour and described the stress of his ranking falling close to 100.

Atmane, who reached the quarter-finals at the Almaty Open and climbed to 90th in the rankings last week, said in a statement that he accepted the criticism directed at him. He said the season had been far too long, that he had been dealing with his mental health, and that he was trying to make a fresh start.

Sports psychologist and former player Jeff Greenwald says long seasons can leave players tired, mentally dulled and emotionally reactive. According to Greenwald, players ranked lower in the rankings face a much harder equation, both psychologically and financially. These athletes work with limited support teams, and because they see every tournament as a chance to earn points and access more lucrative events, they find it hard to take a break.

Atmane is not alone. Another French player, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, said he travelled to North America after the Wimbledon Championships despite not feeling mentally ready, and that he experienced depression and burnout. Indian player Sumit Nagal said that this year he entered many tournaments without being in full form, and that afterwards he focused on enjoying the game rather than on results. On the women's side, Germany's Eva Lys ended her season early to focus on her physical and mental health.