“Not entirely favorable to the players,” Iga Swiatek’s coach Tomasz Wiktorowski openly expresses his ‘DISAPPOINTMENT’ with WTA’s horrible management 

Iga Swiatek has also flagged this scheduling issue time and again.

“Not entirely favorable to the players,” Iga Swiatek’s coach Tomasz Wiktorowski openly expresses his ‘DISAPPOINTMENT’ with WTA’s horrible management 

Iga Swiatek with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski (Image via TWJ)

The criticism around scheduling continues to trouble the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as Iga Swiatek’s coach Tomasz Wiktorowski has openly called out the organization for not being considerate of players. As the players face issues with the packed calendar even in 2024, Wiktorowski has opined that WTA is seemingly struggling to survive and hence it is not able to work in the players’ favor.

It is worth mentioning that Iga Swiatek herself called out scheduling on multiple occasions, flagging the issues of mental as well as physical exhaustion. Other players have also spoken up on different occasions. The WTA received a lot of flak for hosting the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun. However, the WTA officials seem least bothered about these criticisms and hence Wiktorowski has expressed dissent.

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The 42-year-old has claimed that the WTA is struggling to survive. The Pole recalled the time when he was appreciative of the organization for caring about the women’s players and creating an environment that helped them grow. However, he feels disappointed about the fact that it is no longer true. 

I am very disappointed with the way the WTA has been operating recently and I am beginning to believe that tennis players should come together to speak with one voice on the issues that are most important to them.
Tomasz Wiktorowski said to rp.pl.

He further stated:

10 years ago, I trusted the WTA and was impressed by how it creates the conditions for female tennis players to develop, work, and even function after the end of their career. At the moment, it seems that the WTA is an organization that is struggling to survive and is being managed in a way that is not entirely favorable to the players.

Iga Swiatek wants WTA to be more conducive

While her coach flags the issue with the scheduling, Iga Swiatek also raised this issue in her recent interview with Eurosport. The World No.1 who had to miss a few tournaments including the Bille Jean King Cup in 2023 over scheduling issues, has asked the authorities to be a bit conducive.

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Iga Swiatek in a press conference (Image via China Open X)

Swiatek pointed out the increasing demands of the tour and expressed her concerns for the physical and mental well-being of players. She then asked the WTA to be a bit conducive and supportive towards the players. 

The calendar is changing towards even more duties, even greater expenditure of energy that we will have to devote while participating in tournaments because the tournaments are also extended. It is simply not conducive to what the WTA promotes in other aspects, i.e. mental health, life balance in any way, and physical health. I would make decisions that would be more conducive to what they promote and support.
Iga Swiatek told to Eurosport.

Notably, after a packed and intense 2023 season, the WTA has tournaments lined up one after the other in 2024 as well. The new season will kick off with the United Cup in the last week of December and will quickly move to the WTA tour titles starting with the Canberra Open. The year’s first Grand Slam, 2024 Australian Open is scheduled to kick off just a day after the conclusion of Adelaide International.

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