Iga Swiatek Issues Warning Over WTA Schedule Impacting Top Players

Date: February 23, 2025

In an unexpected turn of events, none of the WTA’s top three players—Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka—have secured a title this year. Following surprising defeats at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Dubai Open, these athletes are experiencing an unusual start to their 2025 season.

Recent Performances

After a quarter-final loss to Paula Badosa in Melbourne, world No. 3 Coco Gauff faced early exits in both the Qatar and Dubai Opens. In Doha, she was defeated 6-2, 7-5 by Marta Kostyuk, struggling with her serve and forehand. Subsequently, she endured a 6-4, 7-5 loss to fellow American McCartney Kessler in Dubai.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also faced challenges, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 in Doha, followed by a 7-6, 6-4 defeat to Clara Tauson in Dubai. These results highlight her difficulties post-Australian Open.

Iga Swiatek reached the semi-finals in Qatar and the quarter-finals in Dubai. However, she experienced upsets against lower-ranked players, notably a 6-3, 6-3 loss to 17-year-old Mirra Andree … in Dubai, which sent shockwaves through the tennis community.

Swiatek’s Perspective

Swiatek attributes these struggles to the demanding WTA schedule, stating:

“It’s a calendar thing. We’re not going to be able to … . Also, it’s not like some time ago … . But I feel like the calendar is … .”

— Iga Swiatek, as reported by Talksport

Impact on Other Top Players

Swiatek’s observations are reflected in the performances of other top-10 players:

• Jasmine Paolini (World No. 4) has won just four singles matches … her Dubai Open title.
• Jessica Pegula (World No. 5) has recorded five victories but faced a second-match loss in Dubai against Linda Nosk … .
• Qinwen Zheng (World No. 8) has secured only one match win in 2025.
• Emma Navarro (World No. 9) reached the Australian Open quarter-finals but … .

Sabalenka’s Challenges

Aryna Sabalenka specifically mentioned the difficulties of transitioning from Australia to the Middle East, affecting her performance:

“I’d say that for the last couple … . Because every time I don’t feel well … takes a lot of energy out of … . I believe that I’m not that hungry … at my best.”

— Aryna Sabalenka, as reported by Talksport

Looking Ahead

As the hard-court season concludes, players are preparing for upcoming tournaments at Indian Wells and the Miami Open in early March. The transition to the clay court season will follow, leading up to the French Open, which begins on May 25. Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, will aim to capitalize on her proficiency on clay to regain momentum.