Swiatek others join forces to seek improved WTA tour
Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek says women tennis players are intensifying efforts aimed at improved WTA tour including including improvements to prioritise the athletes’ well-being.
“We are not happy with some things,” Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion who was ranked No 1 until September, said Wednesday after improving to 2-0 at the WTA Finals by beating US Open champion Coco Gauff 6-0, 7-5 in round-robin action.
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Some players recently outlined various concerns in a letter to WTA CEO Steve Simon and during two meetings with tour leadership. Among the topics were a guaranteed income and coverage for maternity leave and injury absences, along with an objection to a planned change in rules governing mandatory tournament appearances.
“I feel like everything is just based on wanting to have more and more, but not really taking care of our well-being and health,” said Swiatek, a 22-year-old from Poland. “There are some things that the WTA could change for us without any impact on the tournaments and the things that they already agreed with the tournaments.”
In a letter Simon wrote back to the players to address some of their concerns — and obtained by the Associated Press — he said working groups with representatives from the WTA Board, tournament council and players’ council “are in the process of reviewing scheduling and tournament standards” and recommendations are expected to be made this month.
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Among the topics, Simon wrote, is late-night matches a growing source of frustration for players.
He said other areas being looked at include inconsistency in tennis balls over the course of a season; anti-doping and integrity; marketing and social media efforts.
Simon wrote that “a great deal is being done and … there is a great deal of alignment in the areas you have raised and what is being worked on,” and promised to provide an update the week of Nov. 13.