World No. 2 Iga Swiatek criticized the demanding and lengthy WTA season, saying the current schedule puts players’ health at risk. She said she might skip mandatory tournaments in the future to protect her body.
The ATP and WTA Tours often face criticism for their 11-month seasons. The debate grew louder during the Asian Swing, where injuries forced five matches at the China Open to end early. Camila Osorio retired after losing the first set to Iga Swiatek. Lois Boisson, Zheng Qinwen, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jakub Mensik also failed to finish their matches.
“I think people are more fatigued,” six-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek told reporters. “Unfortunately, the Asian Swing is the hardest part because you feel like the season is going to finish soon, but you still need to push.”
“I don’t know yet how my career is going to look like in a couple years. Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory. The WTA, with these mandatory rules, they made this pretty crazy for us.”
Top Players Struggle to Meet Schedule Demands
WTA rules force top players to compete in four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000s, and six WTA 500 events. Missing them can lead to fines or ranking point penalties.
“I don’t think any top player will actually be able to achieve this. … It’s impossible to squeeze it in the schedule,” said Swiatek, who plans to play in all mandatory events this season. We have to be smart about it, not really unfortunately care about the rules and think what’s healthy for us. It’s tough.”
The WTA defended the calendar, saying player welfare remains a key focus. It said it made structural changes for 2024 after consulting athletes and their representatives.
“These enhancements have been delivered without requiring players to commit to more events than the average number per season over the previous decade,” the WTA said.
“The new structure provides more predictability as to which events top 30 players compete in and more playing opportunities for aspiring players, while underpinning the commitment to a $400 million increase in compensation over the next 10 years.”
Players Push Back Against Overloaded Calendar
In March, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) filed a lawsuit, calling the current schedule “unsustainable.” It accused tennis authorities of anti-competitive practices and ignoring player health. The WTA rejected the accusations, calling the lawsuit “baseless” and defending its efforts to grow the women’s game.
Swiatek’s comments highlight a growing concern among players. Many believe the overloaded schedule threatens their health, longevity, and performance. They continue to demand changes before the sport reaches a breaking point.
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