The China Open has turned into a talking point for more than just world-class tennis this week, as a string of injuries and a growing chorus of player concerns have cast a spotlight on the sport’s relentless schedule. At the center of the conversation stands Iga Swiatek, the world number two and six-time Grand Slam champion, who has advanced to the last 16 in Beijing—but not without raising the alarm about the toll the modern tennis calendar is taking on players’ bodies and minds.
Swiatek’s journey to the fourth round was unexpectedly brief on Monday, when her Colombian opponent, Camila Osorio, retired hurt before the second set of their third-round clash. Swiatek had dominated the opening set 6-0, but the match was cut short as Osorio joined a growing list of casualties at the tournament. In fact, five matches on that same day failed to reach their natural conclusion due to injuries, with Lois Boisson and Zheng Qinwen bowing out on the women’s side, and Lorenzo Musetti and Jakub Mensik unable to finish in the men’s draw.
“It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule,” Swiatek told reporters after her abbreviated win, echoing a sentiment that’s been simmering among top players for years. The 24-year-old Polish star, who also dispatched China’s Yue Yuan in the round of 64 earlier in the week, made it clear that the current demands placed on elite athletes are, in her words, “pretty crazy.”
Since 2024, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has required top-ranked players to participate in each Grand Slam, 10 WTA 1000 events—including the China Open in Beijing—and six 500-level tournaments. The aim, according to the WTA, is to ensure the world’s best are present at the sport’s biggest stages, maintaining the tour’s appeal for fans and sponsors alike. But the price, Swiatek argues, is being paid in fatigue, injuries, and, ultimately, shortened careers.
“Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory,” Swiatek admitted, hinting at a willingness to risk ranking points or fines to safeguard her long-term health. “We have to be smart about it—not really unfortunately care about the rules and just think what’s healthy for us.”
Her comments come as the professional tennis circuits—both men’s and women’s—face mounting criticism over their near year-round schedules. With 11-month seasons, the grind of constant travel, training, and competition has become a flashpoint. The so-called “Asian swing,” which includes high-profile events like the China Open, is often cited as the toughest stretch. “The Asian swing is the hardest part because you feel like the season is going to finish soon, but you still need to push,” Swiatek noted. “But yeah, there are a lot of injuries. It is because the season is too long and too intense.”
The issue isn’t just anecdotal. The spate of retirements in Beijing this week has provided stark evidence. Swiatek’s own path to the last 16 has been affected directly, but she’s far from alone. The likes of Novak Djokovic on the men’s tour have already begun scaling back their schedules as they approach the twilight of their careers, prioritizing rest and recovery over relentless participation.
For Swiatek, the dilemma is particularly acute. As one of the sport’s biggest stars, her presence is in high demand—not just by fans and tournament organizers, but also by sponsors and the WTA itself. Yet, she’s increasingly vocal about the need to prioritize her well-being. “The only thing I can do now, when I decided I’m going to play all these mandatory tournaments, is to just take care of my body, take care of the recovery,” she told the press in Beijing. “I don’t know yet how my career is going to look like in a couple of years.”
Swiatek’s candor has resonated throughout the tennis world, especially as the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) has ramped up its advocacy for athlete welfare. In March 2025, the PTPA filed a lawsuit against tennis’s governing bodies, describing the current situation as “unsustainable” and alleging anti-competitive practices as well as a disregard for player health. The WTA, for its part, has dismissed the lawsuit’s claims as “baseless” and has defended its record, pointing to the growth of the women’s game and increased prize money as evidence of its commitment to players.
Still, the debate shows no signs of abating. Swiatek’s willingness to publicly question the status quo could embolden other players to follow suit, especially as more stars struggle with injuries and burnout. The consequences for missing mandatory events are not trivial—ranging from points penalties to financial fines—yet Swiatek seems prepared to challenge the system if her health demands it.
“I don’t think any top player will actually be able to achieve this ... It’s impossible to squeeze it in the schedule,” she said, casting doubt on the feasibility of the WTA’s participation rules. For now, Swiatek has committed to playing all the required tournaments this year, but her comments suggest that may not be sustainable for much longer.
The WTA’s stance remains firm, at least publicly. Officials maintain that the mandatory participation policy is crucial for the sport’s continuity and commercial success. But with the growing number of withdrawals and retirements—especially during the grueling late-season Asian swing—pressure is mounting for a re-evaluation of the calendar.
As Swiatek prepares to face American Emma Navarro in the last 16, the tennis world waits to see whether her words will spark real change. Her focus, for now, is on recovery and performance, but she’s made it clear that the conversation about player health is only just beginning. “People are more fatigued in the second half of the season,” she observed, and with so many top names watching from the sidelines in Beijing, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
With the China Open still unfolding and Swiatek’s campaign far from over, all eyes remain on both her matches and her message. The debate over tennis’s punishing schedule is heating up, and Swiatek’s voice is now at the forefront. Whether the sport’s leaders will heed the call for reform remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conversation has never felt more urgent.
