(Cincinnati) World number one Iga Swiatek on Monday criticized night matches at tournaments, saying the WTA disregarded the health of tennis players.
“We should perhaps focus more on what is good for the health of the players, because we are in competition every week”, explained the Polish, victorious 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,” she said.
“During the clay season, in Rome and Madrid, I played four matches which ended around or after midnight,” recalled the Pole.
Assuring to understand that the WTA must “adjust to the broadcasters”, she explained that she had requested data on match audiences 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 am 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, lost 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.
