For 46 weeks of the year, the world tennis governing body, the ATP, schedules tournaments in its circuit — a season that stretches from the United States to parts of Asia and even to Australia. Multiple tournaments are sometimes scheduled during the same week to push higher-profile players to play at the smaller events.

With the grueling number of dates, the sport has a growing number of players expressing concerns. No. 2 Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick all complained to ATP officials last year about the number of events in which they were required to play.

Some of the complaints are genuine, such as the wear and tear of travel and play on the body. On the other hand, some athletes just don’t want some well-conditioned competitors, such as Roger Federer, to have a slight advantage.

How phoney they might be is irrelevant at this point. The bottom line is that if tennis wants to stretch out its stars’ careers — and therefore its profits — newly appointed ATP head Brad Drewett needs to step in sooner rather than later.

In scheduling, the events are spaced out based on their prestige. Grand Slams, such as Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, award the most points and money. However, these events last two weeks, requiring the men to play a best of five sets (the women’s side plays three). On occasion, Grand Slam matches can reach the five-hour mark, while the majority last about three and a half hours.

Other tournaments are divided into three different tiers and are scattered throughout the calendar year. The players’ concerns lie with not the Grand Slams, but the smaller ones, including the Masters 1000.

According the ATP rules, the top 30 ranked players must play in at least eight of the nine Masters 1000 events, the second most prestigious set of events. One can’t finish his season in September at the U.S. Open, even though he has played for the past eight months. There is still an event in China, Paris and the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

No wonder some players were thinking of striking at a later event before this year’s Australian Open. As much of a tennis fan I have become, I wouldn’t have blamed them.

Going light on the schedule early and often could help resolve injuries late in the season. At last year’s ATP finals in London, there were concerns surrounding No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Nadal’s availability for the tournament. No. 4 Andy Murray was then forced to withdraw from the final with a groin injury.

The weekly travel has been swept under the rug by tennis heads. Those traveling for business know the effect on their daily sleep. And while travel might not be daily, the tennis schedule takes players to all corners of the Earth. It proves even more difficult for players who are constantly knocked out in the early rounds and go home, only to travel to another site days later.

Tennis should switch to a schedule to similar to the PGA Tour, with an exhibition season following the TOUR Championship, golf’s championship event. While both of these seasons start on similar dates, the real golf season concludes in mid-September — two months earlier than tennis’ final.

Tennis could schedule optional, less prestigious events at the end of its circuit for anyone who wants to earn another paycheck. And for the stars who want some R&R before a demanding Australian Open near the beginning of the year, they can have the opportunity to do so without being penalized.

In this scenario, the Grand Slams would remain in place. But the world final would be moved to mid-September, directly following the U.S. Open. With consistent four-month rest for players every year, it could even result in better longevity in careers — especially if one’s playing style is as physical as Nadal’s.

Tennis is more strenuous to the body than golf; if it is good enough for golfers to have at least three months to sit back and relax, why not tennis players? It only seems logical.

To continue where players are extended year after year is frankly embarrassing at this point. Something for the ATP’s new head to think about.

_Darshan is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @drshnpatel._