NEW YORK — It is nothing new for tennis gamers to fret aloud about their sport’s overcrowded calendar, too-tough season and too-short offseason.
No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek added an extra criticism this week on the US Open: Athletes aren’t being heard after they categorical considerations about potential hurt to psychological and bodily well being attributable to having extra tournaments that run longer and new guidelines that require participation in additional occasions. She added that athletes aren’t being consulted sufficient by the skilled excursions.
“We need to at the very least be within the loop,” stated Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who performs her second-round match at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. “It will be good for us to have some affect, as a result of I do not suppose our sport goes in the suitable path.”
She’s hardly alone in harboring these doubts.
“The excursions aren’t united sufficient to collaborate with out egos and cash getting concerned. The gamers are completely getting crushed in so some ways – bodily, mentally, financially,” stated Mackie McDonald, a Californian who beat Rafael Nadal on the 2023 Australian Open and misplaced to No. 1 Jannik Sinner on the US Open on Tuesday. “Having a traditional life? We’re removed from it. After which really getting what we deserve, particularly on the Slams? It is unhappy. I am going to put it that manner.”
Swiatek raised questions in regards to the schedule in a TV interview throughout the Cincinnati Open tuneup occasion earlier this month — and drew on-line criticism from former participant Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who wrote on social media: “is somebody pushing you to play ???”
That ignored Swiatek’s fundamental level, nevertheless it additionally ignored this: She and feminine gamers do have to enter extra tourneys this season below new WTA Tour guidelines. There’s additionally the understanding that the one approach to get extra rankings factors is to play — and, in fact, win — with frequency.
The battle, as defined by three-time main semifinalist Elina Svitolina, is that this: “You need to play extra, since you need to be excessive within the rankings and also you need to win tournaments, but in addition it is advisable handle your psychological well being and your bodily [condition].”
In 2024, except for the 4 Grand Slam tournaments, ladies should take part in 16 WTA occasions, up from 10 in 2023. The tour stated gamers have been averaging about 20 tournaments every per season over the previous a number of years.
One other factor gamers do not appear to like is the rising variety of two-week mixed tournaments for men and women on the tier under the Slams, which reduces breaks between occasions.
“We do not have time to work on stuff or dwell peacefully,” Swiatek stated, “as a result of from one match we’re going straight to a different.”
She additionally famous that the 2025 season really begins within the final week of December 2024.
“There isn’t any query the skilled tennis season is lengthy, and we acknowledge the demanding schedule skilled, particularly, by gamers competing on the highest degree. … The brand new schedule, which was developed in session with representatives of gamers and tournaments, doesn’t require gamers [on average] to play greater than they’d have performed in earlier years, however gives extra predictability for the highest gamers and higher pathways for aspiring gamers,” new tour CEO Portia Archer stated. “The WTA will proceed to take heed to participant and match suggestions and shall be open to creating changes sooner or later as could also be applicable.”
The ATP males’s tour has eight obligatory Masters 1000 occasions yearly, and gamers are presupposed to go to 4 tournaments on the subsequent degree down, known as 500s.
Holger Rune, the US Open’s fifteenth seed, stated after shedding within the first spherical he is been coping with a knee drawback and doubtless ought to have taken day off however felt compelled to maintain competing.
“We need to be prepared and play the perfect tournaments, however the schedule is so tight. It is in all probability the tightest sports activities schedule that there’s, I feel. There’s December, once we’re presupposed to be off. After which there’s exhibition occasions and every little thing,” Rune stated. “It is virtually ongoing, 24/7.”
That may result in accidents. Or burnout. Or just being unable to place forth one’s finest.
Donna Vekic is within the midst of a breakthrough season, having reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon in July and captured a silver medal on the Paris Olympics in August. However the 28-year-old Croatian stated after her first-round victory Monday she received sick after each of these occasions.
“The schedule is totally brutal. Once you evaluate it to different sports activities which have an precise offseason — we’ve got, what, a month, a month and a half? You do not even have time to calm down, get relaxation, earlier than it’s a must to begin coaching once more,” Vekic stated. “I am unsure it can change, nevertheless it’s very unhealthy.”
She tried to unplug after Wimbledon, spending 9 days vacationing on a ship. However that did not precisely depart her refreshed.
“You in all probability really feel contemporary,” Vekic stated, “initially of the yr. … That is about it.”
