Billie Jean King disagrees with Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz as she slams players for complaining about tight schedule
Billie Jean King claims players complain about schedules but participate in exhibition events when they get a month off.
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Iga Swiatek, Billie Jean King, Carlos Alcaraz (Images via X, US Open)
It’s tough for Billie Jean King to understand why players are complaining about schedules. Several top players criticized the packed schedule with Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek making headlines the most.
Both WTA and ATP have mandatory tournaments, and the players who skip these events, lose some points. Swiatek lost points for missing them and ended up losing the World No. 1 position to Aryna Sabalenka.
In spite of slamming the congested calendar and claiming that tennis was trying to ‘kill us’, Alcaraz participated in Six Kings Slam, an exhibition in Riyadh that offered $6 million to the winner. Alcaraz is also set to play another exhibition event against Frances Tiafoe in Charlotte, North Carolina in December.
King thinks players will keep participating if tournaments offer huge prize money, in spite of their complaints about schedules.
It’s so interesting how they always complain it’s too much. They’ve been doing this forever by the way – but then they get a month off and they go play exhibitions. You guys said you needed the rest. Don’t tell me you think the season is too long. I know if there’s enough money you go and you play. It’s a really tough argument for me to listen to the players.
Billie Jean King told BBC Sports
In WTA mandatory tournaments, players play four Grand Slam events, 10 WTA 1000, and six WTA 500 events. In ATP as well, the same rule applies, except that the players play four ATP 500 tournaments.
Billie Jean King wants to see a WTA World No. 1 from Saudi Arabia
When WTA announced the decision to host the year-end championships in the Middle East, many, including tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert criticized the move due to the country’s human rights issues.
The critics also stated that such a move was a ‘step backward’ for women’s tennis. But as the first edition of the event in Saudi Arabia is completed, Billie Jean King said it will be up to the players and WTA to decide what to do next.
It’s a really hard one. For the girls that live there, I want them to see the best too. I would love to see a female player come out of the Middle East as the number one in the world as she could influence in a huge way I think.
Billie Jean King told BBC Sports
The next two editions of the event will also be held in Saudi Arabia. In the summit clash of this year’s WTA Finals, Gauff defeated Qinwen Zheng in three sets to clinch the title for the first time.
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Gouri Das
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