‘P**ses Me Off’- Iga Swiatek’s Sentiments Echoed by Egyptian Star as WTA’s Bizarre Decision-Making Brutally Criticized

The WTA has come under fire various times this year for being an organization lacking management. The issues with the finals only added to the fire. Now that they have released the reformed calendar, players are already bashing them. Mayar Sherif is frustrated with the tournaments taking place and lambasts them for having even fewer tournaments on one particular surface. She added her voice to Iga Swiatek when she criticized the WTA.

The Polish star is outspoken when she feels injustice is taking place. The calendar reform of the WTA took her by shock as well, and she chastised the Women’s Tennis Association for the same.

Egyptian tennis star, Mayar Sherif chastises the WTA, joining Iga Swiatek

The WTA calendar reform increased the number of WTA 1000 events and WTA 500 events, which brings it to 17 tournaments in the year for players. This will also lead to an increase in the mandatory tournaments, adding to an already tiresome season. While Mayar Sherif is vexed by the change, she is even more troubled by the lack of clay court tournaments. 

Speaking to Punto De Break, a Spanish tennis outlet, Mayar Sherif said, “This topic pisses me off quite a bit. Why do there have to be 80% more hard-court tournaments? In ATP it is not like that, they have many more clay court tours than us. In February they have a tour, after Wimbledon, they have another four-week tour, it is the way to allow all players to do well, both those who do well on hard and those who prefer clay.”

When asked why the WTA was reducing clay court tournaments, an angry Sherif said that clay court tournaments kept reducing. Even though there are two weeks of clay court after Wimbledon, they are WTA 250 events. However, as per new regulations, the top 30 players cannot compete in WTA 250 events. 

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She further said, “And have only one WTA 500 on clay all year? In red dirt, I mean. This is a shame. Right now there are more tournaments on grass than on dirt. How many countries in the world have grass courts? How many have land?” Mayar Sherif joined Swiatek in her criticism, and the Polish player also lambasted the WTA for the calendar reform, which became more hectic.

Swiatek chastises the WTA

Speaking to the Rzeczpospolita, Swiatek talked about the relationship between the WTA and their players. When asked if the WTA listens to them, she said that there is room for improvement. She also stated that she and the players are dissatisfied with the reforms, which make a hectic season even more hectic due to the increase in mandatory tournaments. 

She said that while the players will speak their minds, sometimes they are just banging their heads against the wall. As per her, many decisions seem to take place due to promises made to other organizations, and most players are informed later. Only a few players were told of the reforms beforehand. Iga Swiatek and Mayar Sherif have openly stated their disdain for the new WTA calendar. Will the association listen to them and make any changes?

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