Iga Swiatek has hit out at the ATP and the WTA for withdrawals at Cincinnati – here’s everything she had to say
This year’s Cincinnati Open has experienced an unusually high number of retirements, prompting World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to believe that this trend is not a mere coincidence. Swiatek perceives it as a signal for both the WTA and ATP to be more mindful of player schedules and prioritize their well-being.
In the ongoing combined men’s and women’s event, several players including Holger Rune, Elena Rybakina, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Donna Vekic, Mackenzie McDonald, Dusan Lajovic, and Marie Bouzkova have been forced to withdraw from their matches prematurely.
Following the recent Canadian Open, another significant 1000-level tournament for both men’s and women’s tennis, occurring just last week, the rapid transition between events has been identified by numerous sources as the primary factor behind the series of retirements seen in Cincinnati.
Swiatek conveyed a similar viewpoint during her post-match press conference on Friday, expressing that the challenges for players have intensified over time. She foresaw an even tougher situation for her fellow competitors in the upcoming year, particularly if all 1000-level tournaments are extended to span two weeks each.
Iga Swiatek urges the ATP and the WTA to “take it easy” on the players
Although the four-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged the need for the WTA and ATP to consider the financial aspect, she firmly believes that this should not be at the expense of players’ well-being. She further expressed her desire for fellow athletes to prioritize self-care and take breaks whenever needed. Swiatek emphasized the importance of players’ support teams making informed choices to prevent excessive strain and exhaustion.
“I think it’s harder and harder. Tournaments, if they are longer, we have less time in between tournaments to recover. I think it’s going to be pretty extreme next year if all the 1000 tournaments are going to be like almost two weeks. So I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I think it’s a sign for WTA and ATP to kind of take it easy on us. On the other side, there’s business that they need to take care of“, said Swiatek.
Iga Swiatek also pointed out the inherent challenges of the North American hardcourt swing, which are further exacerbated by the unforeseen rain disruptions that occurred during the Canadian Open the previous week.
Despite these difficulties, the 22-year-old emphasized that the responsibility lies with the WTA and ATP tours to provide assistance and support to the players.
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