"You don't need to force anyone to play so many tournaments" - Rybakina backs comments made by Sabalenka as she hits out at tennis schedule

Elena Rybakina is the latest player to come out and criticise the tennis scheduling, backing up comments world number one Aryna Sabalenka said while competing at the Brisbane International.

This is one of the hottest topics in the world of tennis, with more players coming forward to share their raw thoughts on the jam-packed schedule and the number of tournaments being played through the calendar year.

The top players are supposed to play a certain number of events a year, with these mandatory. If not played, then they will be punished by ranking points coming off their overall tally, along with being fined. The mandatory tournaments are all four Grand Slams, all 10 WTA 1000 events and six 500 tournaments throughout the year, chosen by the player. Unless they have a valid reason like being injured, they will be punished. However, more players are willing to skip events to preserve their body and take the consequences in a different form.

Rybakina spoke to the media after her surprise defeat in the Brisbane International to former Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova. She went down to the Czech player in three sets, ending her 13-match unbeaten streak.

The Kazakh urged for there to be more freedom in the sport, not being forced to play a certain amount of events. "The season is definitely insane," Rybakina stated. "We all want to have more freedom of choosing what to play, what not to play. You're kind of forced to play most of the tournaments, so it is not ideal."

The negatives about this is that injuries will crop up more, and have done with many examples of retirements and withdrawals from events and matches in recent times. "You don't need to force anyone to play so many tournaments since it's so tough on the body," she said. "It's not easy to show the same good results, be healthy all the time. But it's a topic which we have had for a long time, and I don't see much changing."

This is backing up the comments of her rival, Sabalenka, who admitted that she would rather face the rath of the WTA than risking her body with more chance of getting injured. While the arguments have been ringing around, the WTA have defended themselves back in October by saying "athlete welfare is always a top priority".

Sabalenka is also competing in Brisbane, and is looking to defend her title. She has been handed a huge boost with the WTA Finals champion losing out in the quarter-finals. They would have faced each other in the semi-finals id the world number five got over the line.

The tournaments come thick and fast for these players. A whole host of 250 events are currently going on in the ASB Classic, with the Adelaide International and Hobart International next in line before the Australian Open. Rybakina has firm sights on the major event in Melbourne, looking to clinch her second Grand Slam. It will take place from January 18 - February 1.