World No. 4 Elena Rybakina is once again calling on the WTA to “make it easier on the players” as the Kazakh believes a long and demanding schedule has a negative impact on players’ health and probably likely negatively impacts the quality of tennis.
Last week, Rybakina competed at a WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart, where she won her third title of the year. This week, Rybakina kicked off her campaign at a WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, which started on Tuesday and will finish on May 5th.
If Rybakina – who has been through to the Madrid round-of-16 – makes a really deep run and makes the semifinal or final, it will take her three weeks to complete two tournaments. And then a couple of days later, Rybakina will play again at a WTA 1000 tournament in Rome.
Last year, 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina several times called out the WTA over their scheduling. Now, Rybakina is pretty much reiterating the same message.
Elena Rybakina © Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Rybakina urges the WTA to ‘help’ players
“For us, it’s very difficult schedule, that’s for sure. Of course, people want to see quality matches. It’s not easy to perform when you are traveling so much and you have week by week tournament,” Rybakina said on Tennis Channel.
“I think the most important thing to have this consistency so the players don’t get injured, that’s the most important so I will say just to make it a little bit easier on us just health wise.”
On Saturday, Rybakina ousted Mayar Sherif 6-1 6-4 to reach the last-16 in Caja Magica. By beating Sherif, Rybakina improved to six consecutive wins on clay.
Elena Rybakina © Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
In her next match, Rybakina will again enter as the big favorite as she plays next against 18-year-old Sara Bejlek.
If Rybakina beats Bejlek, it will be the first time in her career that she has been through to the Madrid quarterfinal.
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