Iga Swiatek criticizes tight tennis schedule as she wants a season to last for ‘nine months instead of 11’
Iga Swiatek is not a fan of the mandatory tournaments as she thinks these events affect players' decision-making abilities.
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Iga Swiatek (via X)
Iga Swiatek once again criticized the tight tennis schedule. The Pole, who is in Australia for the 2025 season, wants to be on tour for nine months instead of 11.
Last season, following an exhausting campaign on clay, Swiatek spoke about how playing one tournament after the other takes a toll on health. She was slammed for her complaints as her critics asked her to play fewer tournaments and earn less money instead of complaining.
It would be easier if the season lasted 9 months and not 11. You know, when I stay at home for a long time, I want to go somewhere, but the season is long. It’s hard to be motivated all the time. I think it’s impossible, even if you have the highest goals.
Iga Swiatek told Tennis Insider Club
Swiatek thinks top players are expected to play in the China Open or Billie Jean King Cup and if they don’t play, it disappoints the fans. She believes the mandatory tournaments have impacted players’ decision-making abilities about choosing the tournaments they want to play.
So far, I have the impression that everything is going well, but I don’t really understand how we got to this point where we have to compete for 11 months. I have the feeling that a few years ago, everything was simpler.
Iga Swiatek added
In WTA, players are required to feature in 21 mandatory tournaments. Apart from the four Grand Slam events, there are 10 WTA 1000 and six WTA 500 events. Along with these 20 tournaments, the top players also have to feature at the WTA Finals. Skipping the mandatory events affects the players’ rankings.
Iga Swiatek shares cold handshake with Coco Gauff after United Cup final match
Iga Swiatek‘s first tournament of the 2025 season was the United Cup. Except for the final, she won all her singles matches in the tournament. In the summit clash against Team USA’s Coco Gauff, the Pole suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
At the net after the match, Swiatek shared a quick handshake with the 20-year-old and didn’t congratulate her for the victory. The World No.2 afterward could be seen heading toward the locker room with tears in her eyes.
Watch the video here:
Iga Swiatek is a very sore loser. She deployed all the gamesmanship tactics against Coco Gauff but still lost and didn’t even have the respect to give a proper handshake. Appalling from the world #2. pic.twitter.com/9E2UoF2ALI
— KhulisaC (@KhulisaC) January 5, 2025
Swiatek was also criticized for taking a long toilet break after losing the first set. Then when the American was 5-4 in the second set, Swiatek took a medical time-out, and at the press conference, she explained that nothing serious happened and she was simply tired.
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Gouri Das
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