(Cincinnati) World number one Iga Swiatek on Monday criticized night matches at tournaments, saying the WTA disregarded the health of tennis players.
“Maybe we should focus more on what’s good for the health of the players, because we’re competing every week,” explained the Pole, winner of four Grand Slam tournaments, who will try to win this week at Cincinnati a fifth title of the season.
“The circuit is so intense, with its movements […] that it would be good in the future to focus on the players, especially next year when there will be more and more mandatory and longer tournaments”, did she say.
“During the clay season, in Rome and Madrid, I played four games that ended around or after midnight,” the Polish recalled.
Assuring that the WTA has to “adjust to the broadcasters”, she explained that she had requested data on the audience for matches after 10 p.m., without success.
“It would be easier to understand if it makes sense to play so late,” she pointed out.
Last week, Kazakh Elena Rybakina had to play her quarter-final of the Montreal tournament on Friday evening, which ended around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.
She then collapsed against Liudmila Samsonova in a semi-final postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to rain. The Russian had to play the final, losing to the American Jessica Pegula in 49 minutes, a few hours after the half.
Rybakina then felt that the WTA leaders were “a bit weak”, hoping for a change in the organization of tournaments.
