Rennae Stubbs, a former coach of Serena Williams, has echoed Elena Rybakina's sentiments by calling out the challenging schedule at the National Bank Canadian Open (Omnium Banque Nationale) in Montreal.
World No. 4 Rybakina lamented the scheduling at the WTA 1000 event after her quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina lasted until 3 am. The 2022 Wimbledon champion prevailed in three sets, winning 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(8), and claimed afterward that she was 'destroyed' by the battle.
Moreover, her semi-final match against Liudmila Samsonova was then postponed due to bad weather and moved to the same day as the final. Samsonova emerged victorious, ending the match 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. The Russian then progressed to the final just two hours later, where she lost to Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-0.
During the press conference following her defeat, Rybakina called out the organization of the tournament, specifically regarding her late-night clash with Kasatkina.
"It’s the first time when the match went that long and we finished also so late. It’s the first time and hopefully the last time because I think it’s been a little bit unprofessional from the, I cannot say really the tournament because I think that the most important is the WTA here, and the leadership is a little bit weak for now," she said.
Many fans have supported Rybakina's words, and now tennis coach and former doubles No. 1 Stubbs has also voiced her agreement.
Responding to a video of the Kazakhstani player's press conference, Stubbs called the tournament's scheduling unfair and said players would prefer to play two matches in the same day rather than play into the early hours of the morning.
"This shouldn’t happen! I know the weather was crap, but this isn’t fair. I think players would prefer two matches in a day [than] this," she wrote.
However, the toll of playing two matches in a day was also made clear by Samsonova after her defeat in the final.
"Honestly, I would love to have more time, but they said that it’s not possible," she said, "I didn’t have time to regenerate because I was to the physio room trying to tape all my body, and it takes one hour for this."
This shouldn’t happen! I know the weather was crap, but this isn’t fair. I think players would prefer two matches in a day then this.
Elena Rybakina calls out WTA leadership for poor scheduling in Kasatkina marathon: “It’s the 1st time & hopefully the last. I think it’s a bit unprofessional.. Most important is WTA here. Leadership is a bit weak for now. Hopefully something changes.. I fell asleep at 5 a.m.”
