Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has heavily criticized the WTA calendar, calling the season “too long and too intense,” and warned she may skip mandatory tournaments to protect her health.
The world number two’s comments follow a flurry of retirements at the China Open, including her third-round opponent, Camila Osorio, who retired hurt with Swiatek leading 6-0.
Osorio was one of five players (including Zheng Qinwen, Lois Boisson, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jakub Mensik) to withdraw mid-match on Monday due to injury.
Under WTA rules introduced last year, top players must compete in all four Grand Slams, ten WTA 1000 events, and six 500-level tournaments.
“It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule,” Swiatek said. “Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory… We have to be smart about it, not really unfortunately care about the rules and just think what’s healthy for us.”
Swiatek concluded that the high number of injuries is a direct result of a schedule that is “too long and too intense,” especially in the late-season Asian swing.
