Zheng Qinwen opposes Swiatek's claim that the dense schedule causes injuries: This is just how tennis rules are!

Swiatek has consistently criticized the packed tennis schedule. As the tour implements mandatory participation policies, elite players must play in some lower-level tournaments or face losing vital ranking points. The Polish star has been vocal against this rule since it forces players to compete non-stop. However, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen has taken a contrary stance, defending the demanding schedule despite public complaints from stars like Swiatek and Gauff.

After an early exit at Wimbledon, Zheng Qinwen underwent elbow surgery and is now making her comeback at the ongoing China Open. She started strong by defeating Arango in straight sets but had to retire midway through her third-round match against Noskova. Following her withdrawal, an interviewer asked for her opinion on the tennis schedule.

Zheng’s response contrasted with Swiatek’s; she defended the schedule, saying, “I think this is part of the game. As a professional, this is how it is because we have to play so many matches. The schedule is set like this, and I feel my situation is different from theirs.”

“I just had surgery, so this participation was actually a rushed decision. But at the same time, it was the right choice for me because I wanted to check my physical condition. Now I know that hitting so many balls in the third set was still too much for me,” she concluded.

Later at the press conference, she revealed that the China Open was not originally planned because she wasn’t fully ready to return. Although her team encouraged her to take it easy, Zheng decided to compete in her home tournament. She acknowledged the risks of an early comeback and admitted that after two matches, her elbow felt stressed and required an MRI to assess the situation.

Zheng added, “But I don’t think the schedule is too tight for professional players because the strongest can endure it, and to me, this is the rule.”

Meanwhile, at the China Open, as many as five players withdrew mid-tournament. Besides Zheng Qinwen, Osorio, Menchik, Musetti, and Bouzas also pulled out due to injuries. Against this backdrop, Swiatek expressed dissatisfaction with the WTA’s mandatory participation rules and even stated she would rather break them if no changes occur.

Last year, the WTA introduced a new regulation requiring players to participate in all four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 events, and 6 WTA 500 tournaments. This rule has placed enormous physical and mental strain on players as they are forced to compete continuously. Swiatek publicly criticized this policy and admitted she might break it to prioritize her health.

She said, “For me, I don’t know what my career will look like in a few years. Maybe then I will have to pick and skip some events, even if they are mandatory. These compulsory rules from the WTA are really crazy for us. I don’t think any top player can truly complete them, like playing all six 500 events; it’s just impossible schedule-wise.”

Overall, mandatory participation in Grand Slams and WTA 1000 events is understandable, but including WTA 500 tournaments as compulsory makes no sense. This only leads to more frequent injuries, which negatively affects players’ performances in major tournaments.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)