“It’s not going to end well!” Iga Swiatek warns ATP and WTA about the grueling schedule of a tennis player
Iga Swiatek had initially favored the idea of having two-week Masters 1000 events for the entirety of the tennis calendar.
Iga Swiatek (Image via Imago)
Top seed Iga Swiatek has once again spoken about the congested playing schedule for tennis players. The Pole addressed the media after her tough win over Mirra Andreeva at the Cincinnati Open.
The ATP and WTA calendar has become congested at the National Bank Open and Cincinnati Open. With rain delays, players from both the ATP and WTA have had to play two matches on the same day. Swiatek believes this could take a toll on players’ recovery.
I'm kind of an advocate, saying that we shouldn't be pushing to play more. It's not our decision but I think we have too many tournaments during the season. It makes tennis less fun for us. I love playing in all of these places, but it becomes exhausting...I don't think it should be like that because we deserve to rest a little bit more. People are going to hate me on this, but it's not going to end well for us.Iga Swiatek said in an interview with Sky Sports
"It's not going to end well!" 🤷♀️
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) August 17, 2024
Iga Swiatek gives her opinion on the busy schedule of a tennis player 🗨 pic.twitter.com/80R4tZBa3h
Swiatek has always been a strong advocate for adequate rest during tournaments. With the ATP and WTA announcing the extension of Masters 1000 events to two weeks starting in 2024, the World No. 1 was among the first to applaud the decision.
In 2025, the Canadian Masters and Cincinnati will join Indian Wells, Miami, Shanghai, Madrid, and the Italian Open in becoming two-week events. While the tennis community remains divided on this decision, Swiatek appears to support it.
Iga Swiatek edges Mirra Andreeva in a titanic tussle at Cincinnati
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati Open semifinals for the second year in a row after defeating 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. The top seed came from behind to win the quarterfinal match, finishing with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Andreeva, one of the few players under 18 to reach a WTA 1000 quarterfinal since 2009, started the match strong. She broke Swiatek’s serve early and held her lead to claim the first set. Despite the windy conditions, the teenage sensation showed composure and saved four break points throughout the set.
Swiatek raised her level in the second set, breaking Andreeva’s serve in the opening game and avoiding any break points until the final stages of the match. The Russian had an opportunity to extend the match to a tiebreak but misfired on a crucial backhand return.
This win keeps Swiatek undefeated in quarterfinal matches this year, holding a 10-0 record. It also marked her 30th victory in WTA 1000 events in 2024, with only Serena Williams winning more matches at this level in a single season over the last 15 years, with 36 wins in 2013.
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Fahad Hamid
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