Iga Swiatek lost in the Dubai quarter-finals (Image: Getty)
has pointed “blame” after crashing out of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
It’s been a disappointing Middle Eastern swing for the world No. 2 by her usual standards – she lost to lower-ranked players in the semis of the Qatar Open and the quarters in Dubai.
The five-time Major winner has now suggested that the relentless tennis schedule doesn’t give players enough time to prepare for the two WTA 1000 events.
Swiatek was a three-time defending champion in Doha and had not lost a match at the Qatar Open since 2020. But last week, she
There was more disappointment for the Pole in Dubai on Thursday as she went out to 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who won 6-3 6-3. With Swiatek’s defeat, all top five seeds have now crashed out of the tournament.
And Swiatek believes there’s a clear answer for the big-name upsets. “For sure it’s a calendar thing,” the 23-year-old said.
“Like, we’re not going to be able to be consistent for many years playing week by week. Also it’s not like some time ago that outside of, like, top-20 players, they were just getting destroyed more.
“Now anybody can win these tournaments. It is like that since couple of years.”
Aryna Sabalenka also said it was tough to compete so soon after the Australian Open (Image: Getty)
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While Swiatek knows there’s more depth among the lower-ranked players on tour, she believes the schedule is too demanding.
She continued: “But I feel like for sure the calendar is not helping.
“Again, like, we need to switch continents, we need to switch surfaces, we need to switch the balls. Yeah, it’s not easy. I’m not surprised.”
Swiatek usually thrives in the Middle East. On top of her three consecutive titles in Doha, she has reached the final in Dubai. But her deep run at this year’s meant she had little time to prepare.
“I had the same kind of mindset as like every year, I would say. But the preparation for sure was different,” she explained.
“Before I lost in Australia early, so I had time to do some stuff. This year I didn’t.
“Honestly, I’m not that direct usually, but I would blame this performance on the lack of practice before because I didn’t have time.”
World No. 1 also claimed it was difficult to prepare for the WTA 1000s in Doha and Dubai off the back of the .
Sabalenka won the Aussie Open in 2023 and 2024, and this year she reached the final. After losing her second match in Dubai, she said: “Well, I’d say that for the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East.
“I believe we need to change something in the preparation, or I’ll probably just keep these events because every time I don’t feel well playing here. Even health-wise, I’m struggling. Australia always takes a lot of energy out of me.”