The World No. 1 Iga Swiatek does not believe that the exceptionally high number of retirements at the Cincinnati Open this year is just a coincidence. In reality, Swiatek interprets it as a warning.
Iga Swiatek asked the WTA and the ATP to ease off on the players’ schedules and safeguard their health. The tight schedule may be a reason for exhaustion leading to physical injuries and ultimately retirement.
Many have pointed to the short turnaround as the cause of the recent wave of retirements in Cincinnati, which may have been due to the recently concluded Canadian Open. The Canadian Open is another significant 1000-level championship on both tours. Swiatek said “I think it’s a sign for WTA & ATP to kind of take it easy on us,”
Iga Swiatek says high retirement count in Cincinnati isn’t a coincidence:
“I think it’s harder & harder. Tournaments, if they are longer, we have less time in between tournaments to recover. I think it’s going to be pretty extreme next year if all the 1000 tournaments are going… pic.twitter.com/oHintaprUN
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 19, 2023
It has become harder for players over time, Swiatek said at her post-game press conference on Friday. Next year, she stated would be even more challenging for her peers. Particularly if all of the tournaments at the 1000-level were extended to two weeks.
The four-time Grand Slam winner acknowledged that the WTA and the ATP need to focus on the economic side of things. But she is certain that it shouldn’t come at the expense of the health of the players.
The response to Swiatek’s remarks from fans has been mixed on social media. Several people agreed with the 22-year-old. “The tour has to be revamped. “The injuries pile up heading into the US Open which is not good,” one user wrote.
Whereas not everyone showed equal agreement to the Polish, “I think they can plan the season very well and no one is forcing the players to participate at every master 1000. Why complain?” they said.
Iga Swiatek advanced to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open after reaching the same stage in Montreal, where she faced Coco Gauff on Saturday. She, unfortunately, fell to Gauff in the semifinals because she was unable to hold out against her.
Players who quit the Cincinnati Open this year
Players have abandoned their matches at an exceptionally high rate due to injuries at the Cincinnati Open, in Ohio. These people include Marie Bouzkova, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Elena Rybakina, Donna Vekic, Holger Rune, and Dusan Lajovic.
At first, it appeared as though Rybakina would face Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals. The 2022 Wimbledon winner, though, who had won the first set 6-4, halted play when she trailed 2-5 in the second. The official explanation for the retirement (on the 16th) was “injuries.” While Holger Rune withdrew after losing a set and a break due to a back injury the day before.
Today we see two Retirement on the Courts first Holger Rune after first set lost aginst the Mackenzie MacDonald and Second one is
A. Davidovich Fokina against the Novak Djokovic lost first set and then walked Over at the R2 of ATP Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/Tct7guwlEW— Sajawal Speakes (@sajawal_speakes) August 17, 2023
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who recently reached the semifinals of the Canadian Open, also lost matches in the middle of them in the tournament’s second round, on the 16th. While The following day (17 August), Lajovic, Vekic, and Rybakina all left the game in the middle due to injuries to their individual toes, viral illnesses, and shoulders.
This year has seen a lot of retirements which. This has made people ponder over the physical health of the players for the US Open. Players may find it challenging to be physically at their best during the US Open series due to the aforementioned realities, the medium-to-slow speed of the courts, and the sweltering weather in the United States.