August 28, 2024 2:08 PM
NEW YORK — It's nothing new for tennis players to complain loudly about their sport's packed schedules, too-rigorous seasons and too-short off-seasons.
World number one Iga Swiatek added her frustration at this week's U.S. Open: “Players have voiced concerns about the potential harm to their mental and physical health caused by new rules requiring them to play more tournaments over a longer period, but their concerns are not being listened to and they have not been adequately consulted by the professional tour,” Swiatek added.
“I want to at least be aware of the situation,” said Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who will play in the second round on Thursday at Flushing Meadows. “Hopefully we can have some impact, because I don't feel like our sport is going in the right direction.”
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Surely she isn't the only one with such doubts.
“The tour is not united enough to work together without egos and money being involved. The players are completely devastated in every way: physically, mentally, financially,” said Macky McDonald, a Californian who beat Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open and lost to world number one Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. “Are we living a normal life? We're far from it. And are we getting what we deserve, especially at the Grand Slams? It's sad, I'll say that.”
Swiatek questioned the schedule during a television interview during a warm-up event for the Cincinnati Open earlier this month, drawing online criticism from former player Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who wrote on social media: “Is someone pushing you to play???”
This ignored Swiatek's basic point — that she and the other women will need to play more tournaments this season under new WTA Tour rules — and also the recognition that the only way to gain ranking points is to play often and, of course, win.
As three-time major semifinalist Elina Svitolina explained, the dilemma is this: “I want to play more because I want to be ranked higher and I want to win tournaments, but I also need to take care of my mental and physical condition.”
In 2024, women will have to play in 16 WTA tournaments in addition to the four Grand Slams, up from 10 in 2023. The tour said players have averaged about 20 tournaments per season over the past few years.
Another thing players don't seem to like is the increase in mixed-gender two-week tournaments below the Grand Slam levels and less break time between tournaments.
“We don't have time to work on things or have time to relax because we go straight from one tournament to the next,” Swiatek said.
She also noted that the 2025 season will actually start the last week of December 2024.
“There's no question that the professional tennis season is long and we recognize the demanding schedule experienced by players, especially those competing at the highest level. … The new schedule, developed in consultation with players and tournament representatives, does not force players to play (on average) more matches than last year, is more predictable for elite players and provides a better pathway for aspiring players,” said the tour's new CEO, Portia Archer. “The WTA will continue to listen to feedback from players and tournaments and stands ready to make adjustments in the future if necessary.”
The ATP men's tour requires eight Masters 1000 tournaments each year and players to play in the next level, called the Masters 500 tournaments, four times.
Holger Rune, the 15th seed at the U.S. Open, said after his first-round exit that he was struggling with a knee injury and probably should have taken some time off but felt he had to keep competing.
“I want to be as prepared as possible and play the best tournaments, but the schedule is so tough, it's probably the toughest schedule in sports. We're supposed to have a break in December, and then we have exhibition events and stuff,” Rune said. “It's pretty much 24/7, 365 days a year, with no breaks.”
It could lead to injury, burnout, or just not performing at your best.
Donna Vekic is in the midst of a breakthrough season, reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon in July and winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in August. But the 28-year-old Croatian said after her first-round win on Monday that she had been feeling unwell after those two tournaments.
“The schedule is really tough. Compared to other sports that have an off-season, we only have a month or month and a half. We don't even have time to relax or rest before we have to start training again,” Vekic said. “I don't know if it will change, but it's very unhealthy.”
She tried to get away from it all after Wimbledon with a nine-day boat holiday, but it didn't leave her feeling refreshed.
“I think it's just a refreshing feeling at the beginning of the year, that's all,” Vekic said.
