Italian Open: Iga Swiatek Has the Perfect Response for Elena Rybakina and Co.’s Complaints About Tennis Scheduling

Women’ world no. 1 tennis star, Iga Swiatek, has time and again spoken about the grueling tennis calendar. She believes this “demanding” tennis schedule makes it pretty much tough for players to perform at their peak levels week in and out. However, did it really make an impact on her performance recently? Well, she won a title in Madrid before entering into the 2024 Italian Open. And, she hasn’t yet dropped a set on her way to QF in Rome, and this is a statement in itself. How challenging it has been for her physically to do this time and again?

Iga Swiatek defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber by 7-5,6-3 in the Rome’s R16 match. She’s now eying to become the third player to win Madrid & Rome titles back to back. In the post-match press conference, she reflected a bit on her present physical conditions and the challenges involved with tight tournament schedules. “No, physically I feel good. I had a couple of days off after Madrid. It was enough for me to reset, physically as well. I don’t see any problems now. I guess we’ll see after tomorrow ’cause two matches in a row,” she emphasized the challenging schedule of two matches in a row tomorrow.

That’s interesting how the schedule turned out. It seemed like there would be more time between matches, but now we have back-to-back ones. “Do you find that’s odd the way that the schedule works out?” the interviewer asked the World No. 1. Speaking more about the schedules in this tournament and how she has adapted herself to it, Iga added, “Well, we knew that from the beginning. It’s always like that in this tournament. I kind of got used to it.“

For context. Recently, Elena Rybakina, the defending champion, withdrew from the 2024 Italian Open shortly after raising concerns about the WTA Tour’s demanding schedule. “I was really tired. I think these tournaments which became so long, it’s not very helpful, I would say, because if you’re fit, you’re fit, you’re going to play every day and the tournament finishes. But to stay in one place for almost two weeks, and it’s not like here you finish and you go rest,” spoke 2023 Italian Open winner of the long duration matches and the lack of rest following it.

Before entering into the Italian Open, Iga Swiatek also reflected on how things come thick and fast while they’re on tour.

“We don’t have time to rest properly” – Iga Swiatek on the hectic WTA schedules

Iga Swiatek, emphasizing the fact that planning what tournament to play and what not should be a part of the schedule, said, “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.” She believes they have little time to rest in between these tournaments that before they could even celebrate the victory of one tournament they are off to another. “Even if I win [a tournament], it doesn’t stick in my head. I celebrate for one day, then I’m off to another tournament … in my head.” 

As a result fans often find their favorite star opting out of an important tournament just to give special attention to their bodies to bring their best in the rest of tournaments especially of their choice. However, Iga Swiatek has looked full-charged up in Rome so far. She has won titles here in 2021 and 2022. Can she win her third in 2024?