Swiatek Comments On WTA Schedule Draw Former World No.1 Kafelnikov

“Obviously it’s not our decision, but I think we have too many competitions in the season,” he said. “It will not end well. It makes tennis less fun for us. I love playing in all these places, but it’s tiring and I think most WTA players can tell you that, especially when you play at a high level.”

Before we continue, it should be said that Swiatek comes from a completely unique perspective at the top of the WTA food chain. You win a lot of games, so you play a lot of tour weeks.

The 23-year-old has played 62 games and may play another 20 or 30. That’s what happens when you have high energy in sports. Swiatek has always made it clear how much he values ​​his time off, but with so many events to play – many of them mandatory – he often runs on fumes in tournaments, both mentally and physically.

“I don’t think it should be like that because we deserve a little rest. Maybe people will hate me (for saying that),” he added.

Pole’s comments could be considered tone deaf by players who, unlike Swiatek, need the ranking points and prize money on offer.

It’s no secret how tough life outside of the Top 100 and even the Top 50 can be on tour, so certainly the abundance of playing opportunities can help players challenged by this often-brutal world of sports.

In Swiatek’s defense, there are many mandatory tournaments now for the top players – naturally, the tour wants to show its top talent in more places and in more weeks – and with the increase of many Masters events from one week to two weeks, it really is. to be bitter for a player like him.

We should listen to his words, and ask ourselves: do we want the talent of a generation to be burned before he turns 25? It makes one think of Ash Barty, who no doubt had his doubts about the game of tennis before he retired at the top of the sport at the age of 25.

Reviews of Swiatek’s comments have been mixed. The most relevant was Yvgeny Kafelnikov’s comment on X.

“Is there something pushing you to play,” he wrote. “All you do is complain!! I’ll tell you what you deserve! You deserve to be paid much less than you are making now!! How is that??”