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.
