Iga Świątek has voiced her frustrations regarding the WTA’s event scheduling, expressing her belief that the current calendar is contributing to a lack of consistency on tour. Her comments came after a disappointing 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal loss to Mirra Andreeva in Dubai, a defeat that followed closely on the heels of a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Jelena Ostapenko at the Qatar Open just a week prior.
With Świątek’s exit from the tournament, the top five seeds have now all been eliminated, highlighting the unpredictability of the competition. Following her loss, the world No. 1 (soon to be No. 2 after this defeat) made it clear that she felt the tour’s demanding schedule was playing a significant role in her recent struggles.
“For sure it’s a calendar thing,” she commented bluntly. “We’re not going to be able to be consistent for many years playing week by week.” She pointed out that, unlike in the past when players outside of the top 20 would face heavier defeats, today’s tour is much more competitive. “Now anybody can win these tournaments. It’s been like that for a couple of years now. But I feel like the calendar isn’t helping.”
Świątek emphasized the logistical difficulties players face: “We need to switch continents, change surfaces, and even adapt to different balls. It’s not easy, and honestly, I’m not surprised.” The five-time Grand Slam champion, who hasn’t claimed a title since her 2024 French Open win, admitted that her preparation had been less than ideal: “Before, I lost early in Australia, so I had time to do some things. This year, I didn’t.”
She continued, offering a candid explanation for her lackluster performance: “I’m not usually this direct, but I would blame this performance on the lack of practice. I didn’t have the time to prepare properly.”
These remarks echoed sentiments previously expressed by Aryna Sabalenka, who also took aim at the scheduling. After her own loss to Clara Tauson in Dubai, the Belarusian noted, “For the last couple of years, I haven’t been performing well in the Middle East. I believe we need to change something in the preparation. I always struggle here, even health-wise. Australia takes a lot out of me.”
Looking ahead, Świątek is scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells from March 2 to March 16.
Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva, the youngest player to defeat Świątek and also the youngest woman to reach the semi-finals in Dubai, reflected on her victory. “Honestly, I was really nervous before the match,” she admitted. Despite the pressure, Andreeva recalled their previous encounter in Cincinnati, which had been intense. “I just told myself that I played great then, so I needed to keep playing aggressively and stay active, going for my shots.”
Andreeva also acknowledged the support she received from the crowd, which helped her remain focused during the match. “It was not easy with all the fans, but I think we were even. I had a lot of people supporting me, so thank you to everyone for that.” Reflecting on the advice from Świątek, Andreeva shared, “She told me to keep going because I played well, to keep going for my shots and not change anything. But for me, it’s harder to keep playing the same way than to adjust. I had a clear goal for this match and stuck with it until the end.”
Andreeva will now face Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 in Dubai.