Tennis fans have had a mixed reaction to Iga Swiatek saying she doesn't think the unusually high retirement count at the Cincinnati Open is 'a coincidence' and instead it's 'a sign' that the WTA and ATP should 'take it easy' on the players.
The Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, has seen an unusually high rate of players abandoning their matches due to injury. These include Holger Rune, Elena Rybakina, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Donna Vekic, Mackenzie McDonald, Dusan Lajovic, and Marie Bouzkova.
Speaking at a press conference earlier in the tournament, Swiatek suggested that this high rate was due to players' potentially overworking themselves in the face of the WTA & ATP's difficult scheduling.
As well as having previously spoken out against the scheduling at recent tournaments forcing players to continue late into the night or even play two matches on the same day, Swiatek also expressed her uncertainty about the decision to extend ATP and WTA 1000 tournaments to two weeks.
"I think it's harder & 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 almost 2 weeks. So I don't think it's a coincidence. I think it's a sign for WTA & ATP to kind of take it easy on us," she said.
However, the Polish player also acknowledged that there is the business aspect to consider and that players should make sure to take responsibility for their well-being.
"On the other side, there's business they need to take care of.. Our season is actually going to get longer. I guess we are the ones that should be kind of responsible and know when to take a break and not really push because it's a race, it's a pretty long one. We have to be smart and your team has to be smart to make the right decision," she added.
Fans have taken to social media to express a divided reaction to Swiatek's comments. Some agreed with the 22-year-old.
"The tour has to be revamped. The injuries pile up heading into the US Open which is not good," wrote one.
However, others said they didn't know why Swiatek was complaining, and that two-week tournaments would be better for players.
"I think they can plan the season very well and no-one is forcing the players to participate at every master 1000. Why complaining?" commented one.
"Wrong. The 2 weeks is better, 1 day play/1 day off/1 week half the roaster is gone/2 week half roaster is still there 1 day play/1 day off and alternated with women final Saturday/men final Sunday," wrote another.
However, others defended Swiatek, with one writing:
"Don’t hate on players for giving honest opinions unless you just want meaningless cliches for answers."
Iga Swiatek says high retirement count in Cincinnati isn’t a coincidence: “I think it's harder & 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…
