Zheng Qinwen has hit back at Iga Swiatek’s criticism of the WTA’s rules and schedule.
Swiatek also criticised the WTA rules, which require the elite players to compete in at least six WTA 500 tournaments as well as every Grand Slam, WTA 1000 event, and the WTA Finals.
“WTA with all these mandatory rules, they made this pretty crazy for us. I don’t think any top player will actually be able to achieve this, for example, playing the six 500 tournaments.
“It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule. I think we have to be smart about it and not really, unfortunately, care about the rules, and just think what’s healthy for us. It’s tough.”
Zheng was forced to retire during her own round-of-32 match with Linda Noskova, despite having just returned from a shoulder injury she suffered at Wimbledon.
She believes that only the strongest can survive on tour and that the busy schedule is just part of the sport.
“I mean, this is part of the game,” she said. “As a professional player, this is what it is, because we have to play that many tournaments in the calendar.
“I think my situation’s different than them. I (am) coming from surgery, which is a really rushed decision for me to play here.
“But also it is the right decision for me because I want to see where my body is right now.
“Okay, now I know to compete (in the) third set, the amount of hitting the balls is too much for me.
“But I don’t think for professional players the calendar is too much because the strongest players survive, and that’s the rule in my head.”
Swiatek will now face the USA’s Emma Navarro in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
