Caroline Garcia says the move to expand WTA 1000 events to two weeks has left her feeling ‘frustrated’ after crashing out of the Madrid Open. 

Garcia, who was the 12th seed in the draw, fell 6-3, 6-2, to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the third round on Sunday. It is the first time she has failed to win back-to-back matches at a tournament since Indian Wells where she also lost in the same round. 

Speaking to reporters after her latest defeat, the Frenchwoman has hit out at Madrid’s two-week schedule. This year is the second in a row that the event has been granted the status of a two-week event for both men and women. Following the likes of Miami and Indian Wells which has been doing so for many years. 

However, Garcia believes there are drawbacks to the format. As a seed, she received a bye in the first round and didn’t play her opening match until last Friday. 

“We’ve been here for a week and we’ve played two matches. It moves slowly, you don’t do much, you wait… ” Punto de Break quoted the world No.24 as saying.
“This format is a bit frustrating. Some might resonate with it, but I can’t.”

Supporters of the two-week schedule argue that it gives players more time to prepare between matches. The WTA has previously said the increase along with the ATP ‘demonstrates a clearer alignment across both tours.’ 

Garcia isn’t the only player to raise concerns about the schedule during this year’s Madrid Open. Another to do so is former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who has called for changes to be made to the Tour calendar to improve the quality of matches and reduce the threat of players getting injured.

 Immediately after Madrid will be the Italian Open and then a week after that event ends the French Open begins.

“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 travelling so much and you have week-by-week tournaments,” Rybakina told the Tennis Channel after beating Mayar Sherif.
“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.”

There are currently 10 WTA 1000 events on the calendar. According to the rulebook, players must play in those if they are accepted into the singles Main Draw at the Tournament’s entry deadline if they are fit to do so. 

Ons Jabeur says she is bothered by those who are ‘super ignorant’ about Saudi Arabia with the WTA Finals heading to the country later this year. 

The world No.9 has reiterated her support behind the premier event of the women’s Tour heading to the Middle Eastern nation despite concerns raised by some. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of sportswashing which is the process of using sport to improve a reputation that has been tarnished by wrongdoing. Concerns have been raised about human rights in the country, especially for women and those from the LGBT community. 

Earlier this year, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert co-wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post warning against a move to the country. Prompting anger from Saudi Arabia with its ambassador to America, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, highlighting improvements made to women’s rights in a two-page statement posted on social media. However, Navratilova recently stated that she has no plans to work in the country as a pundit. 

Amid the debate, Jabeur told reporters in Madrid on Saturday that she is ‘proud’ of the WTA Finals being held in Saudi Arabia and believes it will help inspire a new generation of players. 

“I am always honestly biased in this position here and the decision they took. I’m very happy to be there. As an Arab woman, I’m very proud some things are moving there in Saudi,” she said after beating Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. 
“Obviously people could have a different opinion. Where it bothers me is that when some people, they don’t know what’s really happening there, and are super ignorant about what’s really happening in Saudi.
“So as Princess Reema said, You should come to Saudi, be there, and judge yourself.”

One of Jabeur’s sponsors is fitness and welfare brand Kayanee which is owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. According to the company, their goal is to ‘promote quality of life for women.’ 

“Obviously I wish to see better comments (about Saudi Arabia),” she continued. 
“For me, it always has been about chances, and going there not just to play tennis matches but to give the opportunity especially for younger women to see their role models from before and to believe that they can achieve anything.”

In recent days a series of meetings have been held in Madrid between tennis bosses and representatives from Saudi Arabia concerning the future of the sport. The country has expressed interest in hosting a Masters 1000 event but the ATP had to issue a statement last Friday saying that no official decision has taken place. Should they get the green light, one possibility is the Saudi event could be held in February which would have a massive negative impact on the South American swing. There have also been talks about the proposed Premium Tour. 

Shortly before this year’s Madrid Open began, it was confirmed that the PIF had signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the tournament. The deal follows similar agreements with events in  Indian Wells, Miami and the Nitto ATP Finals, in addition to the Beijing ATP 500 event, and the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The PIF is also a Platinum Partner of the ATP and has naming rights to its official rankings. 

Iga Swiatek admits she doesn’t follow many athletes but one of those she does has given her ‘tips’ during this year’s Madrid Open. 

The world No.1 continued her quest for a maiden title in the Spanish capital on Saturday with a one-sided 6-1, 6-1, win over Sorana Cirstea in the third round. Claiming her 26th win of the season so far against only four losses. Swiatek won 66% of her first service points and broke the Romanian six times. 

During her time in Madrid, Swiatek was seen speaking to skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who is a multiple Olympic and World Championship medalist in her sport. The American was also in the stands watching the tennis player in action during her opening match against Wang Xiyu. 

‘I look up to her,” Swiatek said of Vonn after beating Cirstea. “I didn’t have a lot of athletes that I followed but she was one of them when she skied. I also read her biography and I found huge inspiration from that.
“We met a couple of times already and we always talk for a longer time than I usually do. 
“I feel like for sure she’s a person to talk to if I need advice or I just want to talk to somebody who is cool because she’s really cool.”

As to what the two speak about, Swiatek revealed that she has received some advice regarding her ‘mental game.’ Although she did not shed any light on what that was. 

“We have been kind of talking about the mental game here (in Madrid). She gave me some tips,” Swiatek continued.
“You can feel like her power even with the way she talks and her confidence. So for sure this is something that I might learn from her.”

The 22-year-old hopes that the advice could help her triumph in Madrid which is the only big European clay court event she is yet to win in her career. Although she did reach the final 12 months ago before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. It has been more than a decade since the Women’s title was won by the top seed in Madrid. 

Swiatek will play Sara Sorribes Tormo in the next round.