Belinda Bencic has become the latest high-profile figure to raise concerns about the Tour calendar and its requirements for players to play a set amount of tournaments each year.
In recent weeks, the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have both publicly spoken out about the topic, which has resulted in both of them having point penalties in 2025 for not meeting their tournament quota. Sabalenka said earlier this month that she was willing to risk further penalties in order to protect her health. As it currently stands, the WTA requires players to play at least 20 mandatory events during a season. These include the four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000s and six 500s.
Weighing in on the debate, world No.10 Bencic believes the rule is also having a negative impact on mothers on the Tour when it comes to trying to balance their family life with their professional life. Speaking to reporters in Melbourne on Saturday, the Swiss player said she would have liked more flexibility to accommodate her return following the birth of her first child.
“The requirements from the WTA Tour, it’s a lot,” she said.
“You have to play so many tournaments. Of course, you are going to play four slams. But you have to play 10 out of 10 WTA 1000s, and you have to play six 500s. You have Fed Cups. You have the Olympics. There is no room to not play some tournaments.
“I would love to schedule more around (her family life) and make it more friendly also towards my own body, which is still coming back from pregnancy, post-partum.”
The former Olympic champion took an 11-month maternity break before starting her comeback at a series of ITF events towards the end of 2024. Since then, she has claimed a duo of WTA titles, reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and re-entered the top 10 earlier this month.
Bencic travels the Tour with her child, which inevitably has its challenges. Fortunately, her partner, Martin Hromkovic, is also her fitness trainer.
“I would love it to have more options to schedule more, but everything is mandatory.” She continued.
“If you don’t play, you have to pay a fine, which is maybe the least of the issues.
“But also you have a disadvantage in your ranking system after, which doesn’t allow you to move up in your rankings, if you get a zero point or not playing a mandatory tournament. So that is definitely challenging.”
Bencic will start her Australian Open campaign against Katie Boulter later this week.
