Flavio Cobolli and Jaume Munar closed the 2025 season at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna on November 23, yet the next campaign begins just 40 days later at the United Cup on January 2, 2026. With exhibitions further shrinking recovery time, the off-season debate is heating up. Now, former Wimbledon semifinalist John Isner has weighed in, adding his voice to the growing discussion.
During the latest episode of Nothing Major Podcast, John Isner shared his views on the tennis off-season. He admitted his opinion might divide fans and players. “This might be a controversial take, but the off-season is so overrated,” Isner said. He focused on how priorities change once players reach their late twenties.
“Especially once you’ve sort of established yourself, when you get to your late 20s, you’re not re-inventing the wheel,” he explained. Isner stressed that players should focus on staying healthy.
“You just need to maintain and keep yourself healthy,” Isner added. “Obviously, be really professional, but you don’t need to absolutely kill yourself during the course of three weeks.” He emphasised basic habits. “Work hard, sleep well, eat well, and just get ready for the next year.”
Steve Johnson también cuestionó si realmente existe una off-season en el tenis. “¿Hay siquiera una off-season en el tenis?”, preguntó Querrey. “Hay eventos de exhibición que están sucediendo ahora mismo, hay UTS, la Davis Cup fue la semana pasada, la United Cup probablemente empieza el 30 de diciembre.”
Querrey resumió: “¿Por qué seguimos diciendo que hay una off-season en tenis? Los jugadores van de vacaciones por una semana y luego vuelven a entrenar.”
As the discussion continued, the panel also took a swipe at the growing number of exhibition events staged during the off-season.
Steve Johnson casts doubt on the significance of exhibition events during the off-season
After the 2025 season ended at the Davis Cup, the off-season featured several exhibition events. Top players stayed busy on the court, keeping fans engaged and the sport visible during the break.
Carlos Alcaraz has already played exhibitions against Frances Tiafoe and Joao Fonseca this year. He is set for another high-profile exhibition at the start of 2026 against his rival, Jannik Sinner, in South Korea.
On the women’s side, Venus Williams and Madison Keys competed in a recent exhibition at the Charlotte Invitational on December 4, 2025. Keys won decisively, 7-6, 6-0. A brief line-calling glitch added a comical moment that confused both players and fans. It also highlighted ongoing debates about electronic line calls in tennis.
And now, Steve Johnson praised players for taking part in exhibitions despite fan criticism. He emphasised the benefits of staying active and promoting the sport.
With the off-season now underway, the debate over exhibitions and player schedules continues. What are your thoughts on the off-season and exhibition discussion? Share your views below.