"We can fight": Gauff adds voice to debate started by Rybakina and Swiatek on scheduling woes in WTA

Friday, 18 August 2023 at 20:30

Coco Gauff has joined the discussion about scheduling on the WTA Tour, aligning with Elena Rybakina.

For the third consecutive week, Gauff has reached the quarterfinals during the US swing. The 19-year-old American was the champion at the DC Open three weeks ago, and last week she reached the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, but fell to Jessica Pegula.

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In recent weeks, there has been debate about scheduling in ATP and WTA tournaments, and players like Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek have called for better timings. World No. 7 Gauff shared her opinion on the matter:

"Unfortunately, I think Elena and Iga said the same, there is not much the players can do in that situation. We can fight. For me, when I had that night match against Marketa and that was because of the rain, I really fought for the not-before 1:30 time, or not before 2:00, that saved me the extra 30 minutes in the morning, which means a lot in sleeping terms," Coco Gauff said.

"Yeah, but, you know, it's tough, because, you know, the tournament is trying to work with TV, and TV is working. There is a lot of things people don't realize. It's not as easy as just saying, Let's move all the matches up, because we still have to sell our sport," she added.

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The American added that this becomes even more challenging in tournaments where they compete for only one week and there are no rest days:

"Yeah, there definitely has to be some type of compromise. I know that the player council is working on it pretty hard, but there is not much they can do, to be honest," Gauff said."

“(Rybakina's) match (in Montreal), she finished 3:00 a.m., which is insane. She's right. It does set you up, like, a terrible week. I do think that some of the tournaments, especially the one-week tournaments where there is not that extra day, have to do better," she added.

Coco Gauff will play in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open against the tournament's surprise, 27-year-old Jasmine Paolini, who advanced through the qualifying rounds and defeated Marta Kostyuk, Cristina Bucsa, and 4th seed Elena Rybakina in the main draw.

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Coco Gauff on Elena Rybakina’s terrible scheduling in Montreal: “Rybakina’s match she finished at 3:00 am, which is insane. She's right. It does set you up for a terrible week. I do think some of the tournaments, especially the one-week tournaments where there’s not that extra

3:49 PM · Aug 18, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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