Iga Swiatek Reacts to Gender Inequality on ATP and WTA Tours: “I’ve Never Been a Guy”

Iga Swiatek is chasing her third title in Indian Wells, previously winning in 2022 and 2024.

Iga Swiatek Reacts to Gender Inequality on ATP and WTA Tours: “I’ve Never Been a Guy”

Iga Swiatek (Image via X/iga archive)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek commented on gender inequality in tennis, stating she is unaware of the challenges faced by ATP players.
  • She expressed satisfaction with her treatment on the WTA Tour and does not analyze scheduling disparities.
  • Swiatek is preparing to face Karolina Muchova in the fourth round, holding a 4-1 head-to-head advantage.

Iga Swiatek addressed the debate and discussions surrounding gender inequality in mixed events, such as Indian Wells, in terms of scheduling and whether ATP and WTA players are treated differently. Swiatek, a two-time champion in the California desert, said she is oblivious to the problems her fellow players are possibly facing while competing in mixed events.

The Pole lifted the two Indian Wells titles in 2022 and 2024 by defeating Maria Sakkari both times. It was Sakkari again whom she knocked out, this time in the third round, to progress to the fourth round for the sixth consecutive time since making her main draw debut in 2021.

At the press conference afterward, Swiatek joked that she would ignore any inequality in the scheduling of ATP and WTA matches as long as she plays during the day.

Honestly, I don’t look at the schedule from this perspective, because, for example, for you guys, you can say that, oh, night session is the best match to play, but I want to play day session. So, like, if it’s not equal and I’m getting day session, I’ll be fine with it (smiling). So I really didn’t analyze it from this perspective, because I never felt the need to. You kind of just see the schedule, and you go with it.

Swiatek was then asked to leave the scheduling and to give her opinion on whether there are other areas she feels are unequal. The World No.2 said that she, as a WTA player, cannot understand how the ATP players are treated.

I have never been a guy; I’m not on ATP Tour, so I don’t know how they’re treated. But I feel like we have good treatment, so there is nothing I would say is bad, you know, about our life on tour.

Iga Swiatek added

Prior to Indian Wells, Swiatek participated in the Qatar Open, where her run was ended by Sakkari in the quarterfinals. Swiatek now holds a 5-4 edge over Sakkari.

Following the Doha WTA 1000 event, Swiatek skipped the Dubai Tennis Championships. Last year in the first Sunshine Doubles event, Swiatek’s run ended in the semifinals with a three-set defeat to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva.

Iga Swiatek is set to lock horns with Karolina Muchova

Iga Swiatek will next be up against a player against whom she holds a 4-1 head-to-head lead. It’s Karolina Muchova she will be facing in the fourth round, and despite her lead, she is expecting a tough match, given that three times their matches have ended in three sets.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/United Cup)

She’s an amazing player, and most of the times we played really tight matches. It’s going to be tough, and I’m ready for the battle. Honestly, I love playing against her. I also love watching Karolina. Yeah, it’s just nice to see someone who plays so smart and so smooth. She’s like woman’s Roger.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

Before setting up the clash with the former World No.1, Muchova knocked out Antonia Ruzic. While Muchova lifted her career’s first WTA 1000 title in this year’s Qatar Open by defeating reigning Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko, Swiatek is an 11-time champion in WTA 1000 events, last winning at the 2025 Cincinnati Open by defeating Jasmine Paolini.

She has yet to win a Big Title since that win and has lost to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open quarterfinals this year. In last year’s WTA 1000 events, Swiatek, apart from the Cincinnati Open, made three more semifinals.

She lifted three titles last year from four finals, including her career’s first grass-court title at Wimbledon by double bageling Amanda Anisimova.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Explains What Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Are Doing Differently Than Previous Generation