Scheduling has been a concern in the world of tennis, a concern voiced by some of the top players of the current generation, such as Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek. However, former Top 10 player Marcos Baghdatis voiced his opinions, criticizing the player’s approach while complaining about the hectic and rigorous schedule.
What Did Marcos Baghdatis Say About Player Complaints Regarding Scheduling Made By The Likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek?
Baghdatis acknowledged the problems with the tennis schedule, as the severity and hectic nature of it often led to injuries and burnout in players. However, what the Former World No. 8 has criticised is the approach that players take in airing their grievances.
Speaking about it in an interview, he said, ” Listen, yes, I really do think it [the schedule] is a problem,….And the reason why I hate when they complain about it is not because they complain, it’s because they have a union, they have an association, they have the PTPA now, that is there and that is fighting for them. Their voice is very strong and they can go to the PTPA and they can talk with them and find ways to make things better.”
Baghdatis said that the players were not utilizing the facility of the Novak Djokovic-led PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association), which was established for such situations. The Former Major runner-up was frustrated by the fact that players complained through the media about the scheduling, instead of using the PTPA to air their concerns and bring about material change.
He said, “And for me, that’s where I don’t understand the players. They have an association that was created by some of the players, like Novak and Vasek Pospisil, and they have whatever they need to be able to go and negotiate with the tours and the tournaments.”
Top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek have been critical of the tennis scheduling whenever they have been asked about it in the media. The Spaniard was very critical of the same, stating that the current scheduling was “killing players”.
More: Carlos Alcaraz Makes His Feelings Known on Bagging Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award
Meanwhile, Świątek used the terms “demanding” and “tough” while talking about the WTA scheduling and stated that she divides the entire season into phases so that she can better handle the pressures of playing competitive sport for almost 11 months a year.
Alcaraz and Świątek have played 16 and 18 events this year, respectively, across the whole year. Since there is an event every week, players who make deep runs at one event receive very little rest and recuperation time before heading off to the next event, which begins the following week.
