“That’s What You’re Supposed to Do” – Sloane Stephens Echoes Iga Swiatek’s Concerns Over One of the Most Debated Issues in Tennis

s the tennis season pushing players to their limits? Is it time to rethink the sport’s marathon schedule for a healthier future? Iga Swiatek has taken a bold stance against the grueling schedule of the tennis season, urging for a change that could redefine the sport. Her voice resonates with the sentiments of many, including Sloane Stephens. She was blunt about the stresses of the tennis calendar in an open discussion on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, calling the need to compete “one of the bad things.”

She discussed the physical and mental toll it takes on players, emphasizing how the unrelenting demands frequently force athletes to compete even when they’re not in their best form. She stated, “Like you’re just there because like if you don’t want to sign or you don’t you’re supposed to be or you enter the tournament or you don’t have any more withdrawals like you’re just like I’m present but I’m not like mentally and not here, but I feel like that’s just kind of one of the bad things about the tour.”
Following that, she added, “Both tours ATP and WTA, is that you’re kind of forced to play, even when you’re probably not in the best mental capacity, you’re probably not the best physical shape, or you might be injured or whatever it is, and you just arrive because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”