Swiatek hits out at 'too intense' schedule
Iga Swiatek is hoping to put her grass court struggles behind her at Wimbledon. PHOTO: AFP
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek believes fans are being robbed of seeing tennis' biggest names performing at their best due to the intensity of a relentless schedule. Swiatek, who has consistently spoken out about the physical and mental demands placed upon top players, said the number of mandatory events on the WTA Tour was ruining the spectacle for fans ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.
"I think the scheduling is super intense. It's too intense. There's no point for us to play, like, over 20 tournaments in a year," Swiatek said at her pre-Wimbledon press conference on Sunday.
"Sometimes we need to sacrifice playing for your country because we need to keep up with playing these WTA 500s, for example, because we're going to get a zero in the ranking.
"I think these kind of obligations and the rules about mandatory tournaments just put pressure on us.
"For me the scheduling is pretty intense. I think people would still watch tennis, maybe even more, if we played less tournaments, but the quality, for example, would be better or we would be more consistent because of that." Swiatek is yet to win a title this year in a disappointing run that has seen her slip to fourth in the world rankings.
Her three-year reign as French Open champion was ended in a semi-final defeat to world number one Aryna Sabalenka earlier this month. But a slightly earlier exit from the clay of Roland Garros has allowed Swiatek extra time to prepare for the transition to grass, where she has traditionally struggled despite winning Wimbledon as a junior.
Swiatek reached her first ever grass court final on Saturday, losing to Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg Open.
"Probably so far it's the best one that I've had," added Switek on her preparations for Wimbledon, where she has never progressed beyond the fourth round.
"I had really great time in Bad Homburg and enjoyed it. Also having more time to practice before on grass really helped. I feel that I have a little bit more skills."
Swiatek faces Russia's Polina Kudermetova in the first round on Tuesday.
Krejcikova ready for Wimbledon title defence after injury scare
Barbora Krejcikova insists she is fit for her Wimbledon title defence after the Czech suffered a thigh injury scare just days before the tournament.
Krejcikova's Wimbledon participation was plunged into doubt when she pulled out of the warm-up event at Eastbourne on Thursday.
The 29-year-old withdrew before playing Varvara Gracheva in the quarter-finals after initially sustaining the injury on Wednesday during her second-round victory over Jodie Burrage.
But after resting for several days, Krejcikova is confident the injury will not be an impediment to her bid to retain the Venus Rosewater Dish.
"I had to have a couple of days off where I didn't really play any tennis but I did some off-court stuff. I've been feeling every day a little bit better, so I'm really happy with that," she told reporters at the All England Club on Sunday.
"I hope by Tuesday everything is going to be fine. I hope I'm going to have a nice match and a great tournament."
Krejcikova will start her All England Club campaign against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the first round on Centre Court on Tuesday.
Eala made history by becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA final with her run to the Eastbourne title match on Saturday.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough run to the Miami Masters semi-finals in March and Krejcikova is relishing the chance to test herself against an emerging star.
"To be honest, I don't really know that much about her yet because she's obviously a young player, an upcoming player, and one of the players of the new generation," she said.
"I know that she was doing quite well at the first half of the year. It's going to be a great matchup. I'm looking forward to see where the young generation is."
Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam winner, hopes being back at Wimbledon can provide a welcome lift after a difficult year.
The world number 16 has endured a rough ride since defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final 12 months ago.
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Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Swiatek hits out at 'too intense' schedule
Iga Swiatek is hoping to put her grass court struggles behind her at Wimbledon. PHOTO: AFP Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek believes fans are being robbed of seeing tennis' biggest names performing at their best due to the intensity of a relentless schedule. Swiatek, who has consistently spoken out about the physical and mental demands placed upon top players, said the number of mandatory events on the WTA Tour was ruining the spectacle for fans ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. "I think the scheduling is super intense. It's too intense. There's no point for us to play, like, over 20 tournaments in a year," Swiatek said at her pre-Wimbledon press conference on Sunday. "Sometimes we need to sacrifice playing for your country because we need to keep up with playing these WTA 500s, for example, because we're going to get a zero in the ranking. "I think these kind of obligations and the rules about mandatory tournaments just put pressure on us. "For me the scheduling is pretty intense. I think people would still watch tennis, maybe even more, if we played less tournaments, but the quality, for example, would be better or we would be more consistent because of that." Swiatek is yet to win a title this year in a disappointing run that has seen her slip to fourth in the world rankings. Her three-year reign as French Open champion was ended in a semi-final defeat to world number one Aryna Sabalenka earlier this month. But a slightly earlier exit from the clay of Roland Garros has allowed Swiatek extra time to prepare for the transition to grass, where she has traditionally struggled despite winning Wimbledon as a junior. Swiatek reached her first ever grass court final on Saturday, losing to Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg Open. "Probably so far it's the best one that I've had," added Switek on her preparations for Wimbledon, where she has never progressed beyond the fourth round. "I had really great time in Bad Homburg and enjoyed it. Also having more time to practice before on grass really helped. I feel that I have a little bit more skills." Swiatek faces Russia's Polina Kudermetova in the first round on Tuesday. Krejcikova ready for Wimbledon title defence after injury scare Barbora Krejcikova insists she is fit for her Wimbledon title defence after the Czech suffered a thigh injury scare just days before the tournament. Krejcikova's Wimbledon participation was plunged into doubt when she pulled out of the warm-up event at Eastbourne on Thursday. The 29-year-old withdrew before playing Varvara Gracheva in the quarter-finals after initially sustaining the injury on Wednesday during her second-round victory over Jodie Burrage. But after resting for several days, Krejcikova is confident the injury will not be an impediment to her bid to retain the Venus Rosewater Dish. "I had to have a couple of days off where I didn't really play any tennis but I did some off-court stuff. I've been feeling every day a little bit better, so I'm really happy with that," she told reporters at the All England Club on Sunday. "I hope by Tuesday everything is going to be fine. I hope I'm going to have a nice match and a great tournament." Krejcikova will start her All England Club campaign against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the first round on Centre Court on Tuesday. Eala made history by becoming the first Filipina to reach a WTA final with her run to the Eastbourne title match on Saturday. The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough run to the Miami Masters semi-finals in March and Krejcikova is relishing the chance to test herself against an emerging star. "To be honest, I don't really know that much about her yet because she's obviously a young player, an upcoming player, and one of the players of the new generation," she said. "I know that she was doing quite well at the first half of the year. It's going to be a great matchup. I'm looking forward to see where the young generation is." Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam winner, hopes being back at Wimbledon can provide a welcome lift after a difficult year. The world number 16 has endured a rough ride since defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final 12 months ago.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Behind Wimbledon's floral magic
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Express Tribune
a day ago
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Aus win first Test as WI batting collapses
Josh Hazlewood of Australia took five wickets in his side's win against the West Indies. Photo: AFP Australia's vaunted pace attack demolished West Indies' fragile batting, routing the hosts for just 141 off 33.4 overs to complete a comprehensive 159-run victory in the final over of the third day of the first Test at Kensington Oval on Friday. Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer with figures of 5-43 as the tourists dominated the day with both ball and bat. Half-centuries from Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head were the fulcrum of a recovery from 65-4 late on day two to a final second innings total of 310 at tea the next day. Shamar Joseph led the West Indies bowling effort with five wickets at the cost of 87 runs for a match haul of 9-133. Any winning target in excess of 200 was always going to be challenging on this two-paced surface. As it transpired, the West Indies never looked up to the task from the moment former captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell to Mitchell Starc in the first over. Hazlewood then took centre stage. His metronomic accuracy accounted for John Campbell and debutant Brandon King off successive balls, before adding the wickets of captain Roston Chase and Keacy Carty. Chase's Australian counterpart, Pat Cummins, removed first innings top-scorer Shai Hope and insult was added to considerable injury when substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne ran out Alzarri Joseph with a direct hit to the striker's end from mid-off. 'Hitting the right areas' Hazlewood returned to the attack to prise out Jomel Warrican but Shamar Joseph entertained with 44 off 22 balls before falling to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who then dismissed Jayden Seales first ball to complete victory with two days to spare. Justin Greaves was left unbeaten on 38. "It was just about hitting the right areas time and time again and just being patient," said Hazlewood in identifying the tactics to capitalise on the challenging surface. "There are a few cracks there on a good length and just short of a length which kept the batters guessing about going forward or back with a few skidding through as we saw." Australia's intent was clear at the start of the day as Head and Webster transformed the consolidation of the previous evening to controlled aggression in a partnership of 102 for the fifth wicket. Head was trapped lbw for 61 by Shamar Joseph 20 minutes before lunch. However, the course of the first session could have been very different had Greaves held on to another straightforward catch at second slip off Alzarri Joseph when the left-hander was on 22. It was the seventh chance put down by the West Indies slip cordon in the match, a poor display in one of the fundamental aspects of the game which began on day one when four catches were shelled. With a clear intent on aggression on a pitch becoming increasingly two-paced, the Australians progressed at almost a run-a-minute after lunch despite wickets falling at regular intervals. Carey, who top-scored with 65, built on the platform laid by Head and Webster (63), who fell caught behind off the persevering Shamar Joseph. The right-armer also accounted for Starc and wrapped up the innings when last man Hazlewood was bowled off the inside edge to give the Guyanese pacer his fourth five-wicket haul and third against Australia. By then though, the task already looked beyond the West Indies, which was confirmed two balls before stumps.
