Iga Swiatek says the players are united in opposing WTA’s push for increasing mandatory tournaments ‘𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’ “Obviously, I’ve been on tour for…
"It's going to be tough for me to continue for so many years": Iga Swiatek united with other WTA stars on opposing more mandatory tournaments
WTAThursday, 02 November 2023 at 16:00
Iga Swiatek received criticism from some sections for not giving a disparaging opinion on the WTA Finals courts and organisation, but one aspect of the tour that the World Number Two has spoken out on is more mandatory tournaments.
A WTA revolt of sorts has been mooted with a letter regarding issues with pay and conditions sent. Swiatek herself sent a letter to the WTA leadership, with the former asking for higher pay, a more flexible and sustainable schedule. Meetings took place with some players walking out due to dissatisfaction and not allowing PTPA representation.
Among those issues also include the WTA adding more mandatory tournaments meaning that players like Swiatek will add more weeks onto an already burgeoning schedule and she said in Cancun that she doesn't know how long she will play if the schedule continues how it is and that all including lower ranked stars are united in this view.
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“Obviously, I’ve been on tour for 4 years. But this is the first time the top players & lower-ranked players are really kind of united to have an impact & to do something. Because yes, we’re not happy with some things & we want to change the schedule for next year. We’re going to have much more mandatory tournaments & it’s going to have a huge negative impact on our health & well-being.
"I’m 22 & I’ve played 2 of the most intense seasons in my life & I already feel like it’s going to be tough for me to continue for so many years ahead if WTA is going to go that way to increase the amount of mandatory tournaments.
"Most of the 1000 tournaments are going to be 2 weeks in future years, which is also going to kind of affect our time at home & time in between the tournaments. So I feel like everything is just based on wanting to have more & more but not really taking care of our well-being & health. There are some things that WTA could change for us, without an impact on the things they already agreed with the tournaments.
"Hopefully, these changes are going to come & we’re going to find a compromise where everybody is kind of happy. But for sure, only talking about the relationship, I feel like me & the other players.. like Ons, Coco, the players that are here.. actually like everybody. The players that didn’t qualify for the finals. We are really United & think the same way. The young ones, the older ones, we all know that this isn’t good that we’re going to have more mandatory tournaments. So we want to really have an impact. Because when it’s going to happen, it’s gonna stay forever & it’s gonna get worse. Hopefully, we’re gonna be able to push.”
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