World No.1 Iga Swiatek has hit out at congested scheduling during the tennis calendar year, arguing that the number of tournaments should be decreased.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has featured in 12 tournaments in 2024, pleading to the tennis governing bodies across the board to provide players more rest to ensure peak performance levels.
Swiatek bowed out of the Cincinnati Open in straight sets against rival Aryna Sabalenka in a fairly one-sided contest earlier today.
Speaking to Sky Sports after her come-from-behind quarter-final victory over teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva yesterday, the Polish superstar made her feelings known.
"I've been kind of an advocate saying that [they] shouldn't be pushing and pushing for us to play more," Swiatek said in her on-court interview.
"Obviously it's not our decision, but for sure I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It's not going to end well. It makes tennis less fun for us. I love playing in all these places but it's pretty exhausting and I think most of the WTA players would tell you that, especially when you're playing at a high level. "I don't think it should be like that because we deserve to rest a little bit more. Maybe people are going to hate me [for saying that]."
The 23-year-old's next tournament will be at the US Open in New York next week, aiming to win her second title at Flushing Meadows after making her breakthrough two years ago.
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