Swiatek Hints at Participant Dissatisfaction with 2024 Calendar, Laws

The gamers on tour have been butting heads with administration of late. In response to Matt Futterman of the Athletic, prime gamers not too long ago submitted a “prolonged checklist of requested enhancements on the whole lot from compensation and the tennis calendar to event operations and maternity protection” in October. It was reportedly endorsed by 21 gamers, together with many of the Prime-20.

With the WTA Tour low on money as a result of lack of occasions on Chinese language soil through the pandemic, and anxious to fulfill the necessities of a long-term “pathway” that requires equal prize cash for girls in any respect tour-level occasions (not simply the Slams) by 2033 (together with WTA 1000-level occasions in 2027), the necessity to bolster attendance in any respect occasions will likely be an essential step within the transfer to renegotiate present media contracts.

“The WTA 1000 degree tournaments (rising to a complete of 10) embrace a number of transitioning to 2 weeks in size and, with that, bigger draw sizes: Rome (2023), Madrid and Beijing (2024) and Cincinnati and Toronto/Montreal (2025), along with the prevailing Indian Wells and Miami competitions,” the WTA stated in a press release in June. “The extra WTA 1000 occasions will likely be one-week occasions in Doha, Dubai and a yet-to-be-named occasion.

“New participant entry guidelines will guarantee a constant presence of the highest athletes at these premium occasions all year long. The rise in two-week WTA 1000 tournaments mixed with the ATP demonstrates a clearer alignment throughout each excursions.”

In response to Swiatek and friends, these participant entry guidelines may even make the tour much less manageable for the highest gamers who will likely be counted on to lend their starpower.

The stress to play week after week could be troublesome, and taxing, says Swiatek.

The 22-year-old Pole says that gamers weren’t consulted by the tour because it tailored its laws and made the brand new calendar for 2024.

“We discover out about them after the actual fact,” Swiatek says. “This causes frustration. Solely a handful of gamers had been conscious of the calendar reform and the WTA can’t result in such a scenario once more, because it considers itself a corporation created for tennis gamers.”

Swiatek and her friends need some flexibility in the case of avoiding burnout.

“I hope that we can change one thing – for instance within the guidelines concerning withdrawing from tournaments,” She continued.

Swiatak says you will need to have time to flee the tour’s hamster wheel through the season.

“Luckily, I’m in a scenario the place I can afford for my household to go on a visit with me, however not everybody can afford it. Many gamers relatively save all their cash to pay their coaches. Nevertheless, there’s a distinction between taking your loved ones with you and returning residence, when you’ll be able to wash your garments and spend time within the place the place you grew up. I typically miss Warsaw.”