© Getty Images Sport – Clive Mason
Iga Swiatek is calling out the WTA because she believes their actions contradict their claims that they are caring and prioritizing athletes’ mental health. Swiatek, the top-ranked player in the women’s game, has already spoken several times about the length and physical and mental demands of a tennis season.
In 2024, the calendar and schedule will be even tighter as there will be 10 WTA 1000 tournaments – more mandatory tournaments – two WTA 1000 tournaments are extending to two weeks – there will be larger draws – and the Olympics are also taking place next year.
Swiatek, 22, believes all of this could have a very negative impact on athletes’ mental and physical well-being. “The calendar is changing towards even more duties, even greater expenditure of energy that we will have to devote while participating in tournaments, because the tournaments are also extended.
It is simply not conducive to what the WTA promotes in other aspects, i.e. mental health, life balance in any way, physical health. I would make decisions that would be more conducive to what they promote and support,” Swiatek told Eurosport Poland.
