Imagine having a dream that you get to live out to your heart’s content. Iga Swiatek, a girl from Warsaw, Poland, wanted to play tennis for a living and now she stands at the top of the WTA rankings, leagues apart from the rest. But playing at the high level doesn’t come without a cost, as Swiatek has often stated. The grueling schedule of the Tour takes a toll on even the best of the best, and Swiatek’s verbal onslaught against this issue has found a staunch supporter in Chris Evert.

Yesterday, after her win against Mirra Andreeva that lasted two-and-a-half hours in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open, Swiatek had some strong words for the WTA authorities. “I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It makes tennis less fun for us. Obviously, I love playing in all these places, but it’s pretty exhausting” she told Sky Sports. “When you’re playing at the high level and, you know, going to high-ranking tournaments. I don’t think it should be like that. We deserve to rest a little bit more…People are going to hate me for that because it sounded weird that I’m asking for rest. It doesn’t make sense, but the truth is that you have got to keep up with the Tour.”

People did, in fact, criticize her for it by making statements like no one was forcing her to play. But Evert has stood by Swiatek’s side, first replying to the original interview post on X with, “I certainly can understand @iga_swiatek concern about playing too many tournaments, especially when you go deep in tournaments every week.”

And, after another fan said that the Polish player was complaining about her job and how the schedule had not changed since the 80s, Evert again came forward to defend her. After all, she had first-hand experience of playing in the 80s! “What people don’t understand is there is SO much more depth than the 80’s! I played then!! The players now have to bring their “A” game in the first round; we didn’t!”

If you compare the footage from a match in the 80s, either ATP or WTA, to one from 2024, there is certainly a difference. The surfaces, the equipment, everything has been upgraded and brought more intensity to the court. If the top players from that decade were to compete today, where would they stand in this hard and fast tennis arena?

Iga Swiatek’s opinion might be controversial but she has never shied from opening up about the hardships on the Tour. She said something similar after lifting the Madrid Open title in May, “Scheduling-wise, the planning is going to be more important, sometimes even [missing] some tournaments that are important for you, for you to be ready for the next one. We don’t have time to rest properly.”

Even though the Polish sensation has won 5 titles this year, including the French Open for a third consecutive year, it’s been hectic. “Our calendar is crazy, probably the toughest one in sports,” she stated in a press conference a few days ago. The glory that comes with being at the top is irresistible, but can athletes survive the havoc the stress might wreak on their bodies?

For what it’s worth, Evert believes in Swiatek, especially when it comes to the Grand Slam they share in common.

Chris Evert believes Iga Swiatek can surpass her French Open record

In a nearly two-decade-long career, Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slams, 7 of which were French Open titles. Although she retired in 1989, no WTA player has held a candle to her record. Until now. Iga Swiatek, who went pro in 2016, already has 4 French Open titles in her cabinet, the last 3 of which were won consecutively. It’s only been 8 years since her first professional tournament and the Pole already has more than half of Evert’s tally.

When asked if she thinks the youngster can surpass her, Evert said, “Absolutely. Iga is a player on a mission. She’s more focused. She doesn’t get upset at all when she’s losing. She just has all the ingredients to be a champion. She really does. She checks all the boxes — the intangibles and the tangibles.”

Regardless of the exhausting schedule, Swiatek is battling it out on the court and maintaining her World No. 1 position. Whether or not Evert’s prediction comes true is anyone’s guess – only time will tell. But until the day she retires, or even after, the Polish sensation will be fighting to keep her standards on the court sky-high.