Iga Swiatek has criticized the WTA for the exhausting tennis calendar, as more and more tournaments become mandatory for players.
The world number 1 warned that it would “not end well” as she made an impassioned statement during the Cincinnati Open.
But Swiatek fears that people will “hate” her for her comments.
The five-time Grand Slam champion consistently posts good results in every tournament she enters, making the turnaround time even more difficult. She was back in action less than two weeks after her recent bronze medal win at the Olympics.
The Paris 2024 Games have made an already busy schedule even tighter this year. And Swiatek is feeling the impact despite another good run in Cincinnati. After beating Mirra Andreeva in a close quarter-final, she told Sky Sports: “Well, what can I say? I’ve been kind of an advocate that we shouldn’t, I don’t know, keep pushing to play more.
The world number 1 said they had no other choice, although she thought the demanding calendar would ultimately prove to be a mistake. “Of course it’s not our decision, but I think we definitely have too many tournaments this season. That’s not going to end well and it’s making tennis less fun for us, let’s put it that way,” she continued.
“Of course I love playing in all these places, but it is quite exhausting and I think most WTA players would tell you that. Especially when you play at a high level and reach the top rounds of every tournament.”
Although Swiatek is convinced that most of her colleagues think the same, she fears that she may face backlash for her opinion. The 23-year-old added: “I don’t think it should be like that, because we deserve to rest a little more. Of course, people might hate me for that.”