Iga Swiatek says she and other women’s tennis players are more united than in the past as they seek changes on the WTA Tour, including improvements to prioritize the athletes’ well-being.
”We are not happy with some things,” Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion who was ranked No 1 until September, said after improving to 2-0 at the WTA Finals by beating US Open champion Coco Gauff 6-0, 7-5 in round-robin action.
In a letter to WTA chief Steve Simon and in meetings with tour leaders, players raised concerns such as guaranteed income, coverage for maternity leave and injury absences and a planned change in rules governing mandatory appearances.
Simon has written back, saying a review is in the works.
Among arrangements under review, he said, is late-night matches and the inconsistency of balls over the course of a season.
Swiatek, asked about the lack of spectators at her game with Gauff, blamed it on the late decision to hold the tour’s season-ending championship in Cancun.
The other group match saw a rematch of the Wimbledon final as sixth seed Ons Jabeur got back at Vondrousova with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
After her win, Jabeur said she was donating part of her WTA Finals prize money to help Palestinians.
She fought back tears as she spoke about the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “It’s very tough seeing children and babies dying every day. It’s heartbreaking.
”It is not a political message, it is humanity,” she added. “I want peace in this world. That’s it.”
Associated PRESs/REUTERS
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