After Iga Swiatek, Russian WTA Star Fires Back at Tennis’ Persistent Problem: ‘So That I Don’t Die’

With the tennis season in full swing, players are back on the court showcasing their skills. However, looks like Iga Swiatek‘s complaint about the hectic tennis schedule is being reiterated. this time by Anastasia Potapova. We’re already a month into the 2025 season, and the first Grand Slam just wrapped up. Potapova reached the second round of the Australian Open and faced an early exit at the Brisbane International. Now, she’s back at the Linz Open, aiming to reclaim her 2023 title as she strides into the quarterfinals. But even she feels the pressure of back-to-back tournaments.

The No. 6 seed powered through a nail-biting match against Rebecca Sramkova, winning 7-6(1), 6-4 to secure her spot in the quarterfinals of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. Potapova is rocking a stellar 9-1 record at this event! Ahead of the Linz Open, she opened up in an interview with Sport.ru about the hectic season. She stated, “We play way too much, even if you compare it to other sports. We play non-stop, week after week. If you stay at home five days in two months, it’s really good.” Sound familiar? Iga Swiatek expressed similar feelings last year!

Swiatek first shared her thoughts during the 2024 Cincinnati Open, highlighting how the packed calendar is making tennis less enjoyable and unsustainable. She said, “It makes tennis less fun for us. Obviously I love playing in all these places, but it’s pretty exhausting. I don’t think it should be like that because we deserve to rest a little bit more.” While her honesty sparked some debate, it resonates with many who feel the physical toll of competing at such high levels.

Anastasia echoed those sentiments: “The tight schedule and logistics involved are not great. In one week you can play in Dubai, then in Europe, Asia, and Australia. It’s difficult, but I have a team that builds my schedule so that I don’t die from overload.” According to tennis regulations, top players must compete in 21 tournaments annually, including four Grand Slams and various WTA events. The pressure is on for those hoping to climb the ranks.

“There is not much time to rest, but I must emphasize that it would be a sin to complain about such a life,” she added. Anastasia isn’t alone in her views; Elena Rybakina also felt the strain after her tough loss to Swiatek before the Australian Open.

Rybakina blames schedule for fatigue during the 2025 United Cup

After taking a break during the 2024 season for “personal issues,” Elena Rybakina is finally speaking out about her repeated absences and losses. Coming into the 2025 season, she’s ready to tackle challenges head-on. Rybakina recently led Kazakhstan to their first semifinal appearance at the mixed-team event against Team Poland in Perth. However, during their semifinal encounter on January 4, she faced a tough opponent in Iga Swiatek.

Despite being one of the few players to give Swiatek a hard time in recent years, Rybakina lost with a scoreline of 6(5)-7, 4-6. After the match, she admitted feeling exhausted, saying, “It was tough to move and just after long rallies I was feeling that I’m very tired physically, but I was pushing myself,” Rybakina also highlighted travel as a significant factor in her performance.

When asked if the change in venue and conditions affected her results, she explained, “Of course it’s not easy to fly. It was, like, four-and-a-half, five hours’ flight, and then you have only day, and a half basically to prepare, to adjust.” She further noted that while other teams face similar challenges, starting matches at 10:00 AM makes it even tougher. “I would agree that ideally if we would play everybody in one place, it will be much better for everyone,” she added. This ongoing debate about scheduling and travel logistics isn’t new but remains a pressing issue for players.

But aside from these challenges, Rybakina is also faced with her coaching controversy that could only add to the stress. Meanwhile, other players like Potapova, Sloane Stephens, and even Carlos Alcaraz on the men’s side are also grappling with scheduling issues as they aim for victories. Will we see a fix to this issue raised by them soon? Share your thoughts on it in the comments below!