Iga Swiatek Refuses to Let Go of Scheduling Drama as She Drops Controversial Take on What’s Troubling Her

Iga Swiatek's season may be winding down, but she's not slowing her pace. After a tough defeat against Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the World No. 2 is gearing up for the Billie Jean King Cup with her Polish teammates. Swiatek took a brief break before the US Open, but she's ready to hit the courts again. With five titles this season, including the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open. Her decision to rest was well-founded. Fatigue was a significant factor for her, but now she's back and focused.

Earlier this August, Swiatek voiced her concerns about the WTA tour's packed schedule. She emphasized that players deserve more rest, echoing sentiments from fellow athletes like Carlos Alcaraz, who warned that the ATP tour could be "going to kill us." Now Swiatek has made a new statement regarding the matter, "I think the number of obligations that we have in terms of playing tournaments is very big."

On November 13, in an interview with AS, Swiatek reflected on her season. It was a mix of highs and lows—from winning a Grand Slam and briefly holding the No. 1 spot to parting ways with her coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski. She has since teamed up with Wim Fissette, known for coaching stars like Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters. When asked about the ongoing debate over "the courts, the balls, the calendar," she replied, "I think the schedule and the compulsory tournaments that we have to play. A lot of the girls can't play all these tournaments, so that's my biggest concern."

Concerns about adapting to different court conditions have been prevalent among players. For instance, Alcaraz has raised his struggles on indoor courts in Turin while Daniil Medvedev humorously criticized ball quality during a match in Shanghai. But on the WTA side, Swiatek noted similar challenges for women in tennis, "I think they've made some good changes in terms of the balls. The surfaces are always going to change, it's impossible for them to always be the same." Yet she appreciates that adapting is part of tennis's charm, adding, "I think that's the beauty of tennis, that in every tournament you have a different challenge."

As she prepares for the BJK Cup, Swiatek aims to finish her season on a high note. Working with Fissette has sparked new ambitions. When announcing their partnership he stated, "Our goal is for Swiatek to start adding more Grand Slam titles on other surfaces as well." So how does Switek hope to tackle the next season?

World No.2 declares that she's ready for a big challenge in 2025! Iga Swiatek 's time as World No. 1 has been impressive, to say the least, marked by multiple 50-week stints at the top. However, her recent admission may surprise fans. After the US Open, Swiatek knew taking a break could cost her the top ranking, especially with Aryna Sabalenka hot on her heels. "Aryna was right behind me," she noted, acknowledging the risk of losing her position. Despite this, Swiatek prioritized her well-being over rankings which is always the right thing to do. "I wouldn't say it's a big deal for me," she said. "Everyone wants to be there, but I'm not obsessed with it." Yet, she remains determined to reclaim her spot, stating, "Aryna and I will fight for it."

Meanwhile, Sabalenka has had a stellar 2024 season, winning major titles like the Australian Open and Wuhan Open. These victories propelled her past Swiatek in the rankings, where she now leads with 9,706 points compared to Swiatek's 9,665. Reflecting on her success, Sabalenka tweeted, "N1. Let's see for how long this time." The WTA Finals presented both players with a chance to solidify their standings. Swiatek entered with hopes of regaining her No. 1 status but faced disappointment when Barbora Krejcikova defeated Coco Gauff , ending Swiatek's tournament early.

Sabalenka has made impressive improvements in serving. The biomechanics expert Dr. Piotr Krezalek, who helped Sabalenka, highlighted how small adjustments could lead to significant performance gains. He suggested that Swiatek could benefit from similar techniques to elevate her game further, "Of course, there would be an opportunity for Iga to use our help." As both players prepare for the upcoming season, the rivalry between Swiatek and Sabalenka promises to intensify. Do you think Swiatek will regain her dominance in the upcoming season? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!