Svitolina declares she will compete freely next year, ignoring mandatory participation rules; Gauff says women's tennis is more exciting and unpredictable

On the second day of the Riyadh year-end finals, former world No.1 Swiatek once again voiced strong criticism of the WTA’s scheduling and announced that by 2026 she will compete solely on her own terms, free from compulsory participation requirements.

In her debut at the Riyadh year-end finals, although Swiatek swept past Keys in just 61 minutes, her performance was not flawless. Considering her results during the Chinese season this year, she has not lived up to expectations following her Wimbledon victory. In response, she targeted the WTA’s “mandatory participation” rule again, arguing that such a hectic and exhausting schedule makes it difficult for players to maintain good form, calling these rules deeply disappointing.

“The scheduling is absolutely ridiculous. Everything is now commercialized, filled with contracts and licensing restrictions,” Swiatek said bluntly.

Swiatek continued her relentless criticism: “Everyone knows the current system is heading in the wrong direction.”

The Polish star also made a bold declaration: by 2026, she will completely break free from the constraints of mandatory participation rules.

“I won’t care anymore about which tournaments are mandatory or which absences will cause points to drop to zero. I will arrange my schedule entirely according to my own wishes,” Swiatek’s statement was undoubtedly a bombshell thrown at the current tennis system. She emphasized that player welfare should be the true priority, not just “brushing things off by increasing prize money.”

Swiatek’s remarks resonated widely within the tennis community. Several anonymous players privately expressed support for her stance. One top-30 female player revealed, “We count silently every day, hoping and waiting for the day when mandatory participation restrictions end.”

A tennis commentator analyzed: “Swiatek’s concerns are valid. Players now compete like they’re rushing from one event to another, bearing immense physical and mental pressure.”

Swiatek’s protest strikes at the heart of tennis’s core conflict—the growing commercial interests versus the players’ physical and mental health.

In fact, the WTA’s schedule reform starting in 2023 has sparked multiple controversies. The new system increased the number of mandatory top-level tournaments and imposed strict penalties on players who skip these events.

Swiatek sharply pointed out that this arrangement overlooks player sustainability: “I might skip some tournaments, but if it allows me to perform better when I do compete, that’s a positive choice.”

Her view was supported by sports medicine experts. Professor Li, a specialist in sports injuries, stated: “The professional tennis season is too long with insufficient rest periods, leading to a continuous rise in injury rates.”

While Swiatek fired again at the scheduling system, Gauff spoke up for the unique appeal of women’s tennis.

Gauff admitted: “Even though Carlos (Alcaraz) and Jannik (Sinner) perform brilliantly, people are still talking about needing a third champion.”

She believes that having diverse champions actually makes the competition more thrilling: “I don’t mean to diminish anyone’s achievements; their matches are fantastic and bring passion to the sport. But in the long run, as a fan, I find it more exciting when you can’t predict the winner in the quarterfinals or semifinals.”

Gauff highlighted a characteristic of women’s tennis: “It makes the matches more intense because everyone can dream of winning the title.”

Regarding the competitive landscape of women’s tennis, a former Grand Slam champion wrote on social media: “Women’s matches are indeed more unpredictable; any top-50 player beating the world No.1 is not a surprise. This definitely adds suspense for fans.”

On the topic of men’s and women’s tennis competition, a fan comment received high praise: “Instead of always seeing Sinner or Alcaraz win, it’s better to look forward to different champions emerging—that’s the true charm of sports.”

The professional tennis schedule system and competitive landscape stand at a crossroads of change. Swiatek’s rebellion and Gauff’s “high-emotional promotion” of women’s tennis reveal a complex and contradictory tennis world. Where it goes next, only time will tell!(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)