'We deserve to rest' - Iga Swiatek complains about tight playing schedule after QF win at 2024 Cincinnati Open

Iga Swiatek will face Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open.

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has complained about the playing schedule. After the WTA World No. #1 defeated Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva in three sets in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati Open 2024, she spoke about the tight and rigid tennis schedule around the year.

Swiatek stated that too many tournaments have decreased the recovery time for tennis stars. In addition to that, that has also made the game less fun. She said (via Sky Sports), “I think we have too many tournaments in the season. It’s not going to end well. It makes tennis less fun for us…We deserve to rest a little bit more.”

Iga Swiatek, who won the bronze medal at Paris Olympics 2024, missed the 2024 Canadian Open due to fatigue after the Olympics. Much like Swiatek, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti also missed the Canadian Open due to fatigue and fitness concerns.

Alcaraz and Musetti returned to action at the Cincinnati Open. However, Djokovic is expected to return directly at the US Open, where he will defend his title.

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Meanwhile, Swiatek has progressed to the semifinals of Cincinnati Masters 2024, where she will face arch-rival Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. The two faced each other twice in May at the Madrid Open and Rome Masters finals. The Belarusian lost on both occasions and trials Swiatek 3-8 in their head-to-head record.

However, being a two-time Australian Open champion, Sabalenka is familiar with the hard court. She also reached the final at Flushing Meadows last season, where she lost in the final to American tennis star Coco Gauff. Sabalenka will be seeded second in the US Open, thus, the two will only face each other if they reach the final.

After her win over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek also lauded the young Russian. She stated that playing against Andreeva was a challenge and she has matured enough as a tennis player.

She said, “She’s playing and behaving like she’s older. I felt like we were playing at a similar level. It was really tight. Every point mattered at the end. It wasn’t easy.” Swiatek has already won five titles and an Olympic bronze medal this year. She’s aiming to win her sixth title of the season as she’s only two wins away.

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