Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 2, 2025
Image source: Fred Lee/Getty
Iga Swiatek The WTA Tour’s narrow calendar slammed “very crazy”.
Zheng Qinwen Controversial Swiatek’s criticism is the most appropriate survival, contrary to Pro tennis’s success.
Wimbledon champion Swiatek slammed the WTA’s mandatory tournament rules, requiring top players to compete in 10 WTA 1,000 games, five WTA 500 tournaments and four majors due to excessive and potential health hazards.
World No. 2 Swiatek called the current WTA schedule “overwhelming”.
“When I look at the schedule, I think we have too many games and the schedule is crazy. That’s probably the first thing,” Swiatek told the media in Beijing earlier this week. “This is why I’m trying to separate the swings of the year and just focus on the next swing.
“After a four-week preseason, eight-day holiday, if I were to see the end of December and think I needed to play at the top of the game for 11 months, I think it would be overwhelming. It’s better to go step by step, because the schedule is really demanding and tough.”
When asked about her reaction, Zheng took action in Asia after recovering from shoulder surgery, disagreeing with Swiatek’s emotions.
Olympic gold medal champion Zheng said management arrangement requirements are part of becoming a professional player.
“I mean, it’s part of the game,” Zheng said. “As a professional player, that’s the truth because we have to play many games in the calendar.
“I think my situation is different from them. I [am] From the surgery, it was really an urgent decision for me. But that was the right decision for me, too, because I wanted to see where my body is now…
“But I think there are too many calendars for professional players because the strongest players survive, and that’s the rule in my mind.”
Zheng retired from Beijing’s third set against Linda Noskova, and he said she missed the game, the adrenaline of the game and her fans during the tennis break caused by the surgery.
“I think what I miss the most is competing with other players because on these days I can only see them on TV,” Zheng said. “Sometimes I’m lying in bed because I just had the surgery. I wish I could be in a place where we were open, but at that moment I couldn’t move my arms.
“I’m really happy to be in the game again. Of course, I miss all the fans who cheered me on. Meanwhile, I missed the adrenaline and the pressure to go back to court.”
