Iga Swiatek’s tug-of-war with the tennis schedule has taken another twist. She is now preparing to face Elena Rybakina after taking down home favorite Maddison Inglis with authority. Swiatek breezed through in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, in front of the Aussie crowd, sealing yet another quarterfinal. Everything seemed to go according to plan, but behind the scenes, things had been playing out differently.

On a panel at the Australian Open alongside WTA legend Lindsay Davenport, Jim Courier revealed how the scheduling unfolded.

According to him, “Swiatek wanted a day match.”

What should’ve been a simple request turned into a long back-and-forth over Monday’s lineup. Despite her push, it didn’t happen.

“The Australian network, which I also work for down here, desperately wanted to have an Australian playing in prime time, because that’s what they pay the big money for,” Courier explained. “It was a long, drawn-out battle, I can tell you. It went to the wire. Eventually, Channel 9 got what they wanted and what the tournament also wants, and Iga [Swiatek] didn’t get what she wanted, but those are the backroom happenings here at tournaments like this.”

Davenport chimed in with a sharper take.

“You can’t let the inmates run the asylum, and every player has an opinion, but eventually it’s a business, and as Jim said, Australian TV should win.”

So far, no one knows why Swiatek wanted a day match. Courier also noted that once the quarterfinals wrap, most WTA matches would move to the night.

“Her playing at 11:30 in the morning is terrible for Europe, also, where she’s from, that’s the middle of the night for them,” Courier concluded.

Still, we all know that Swiatek hasn’t been quiet about her issues with the packed tennis calendar. She’s voiced frustration at the sport’s demanding schedule for over a year, calling it “super intense.” The pace, she says, forces sacrifices, like skipping national team events, to meet WTA 500 requirements and avoid ranking penalties.

Despite her reservations about the calendar, Swiatek didn’t slow down. She delivered an emphatic statement under the lights at Rod Laver Arena against Inglis. The World No. 2 needed only 73 minutes to do so. That victory put her alongside Jannik Sinner and the rest of the top six seeds in both the men’s and women’s draws. It’s the first time since 1956 that all top seeds have reached the last eight at the Australian Open.

Swiatek also shared her thoughts on the hectic grind. She pulled back the curtain on the struggles players face week after week as they try to stay at the top of their game.

Iga Swiatek admits it’s “impossible” to keep up with the tennis demands

The World No. 2 brushed past Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-3 to storm into the third round. But after the win, she opened up about the one challenge that persists.

“There’s not much time to reset completely, it’s kind of impossible,” Swiatek said. “It feels like there’s no beginning of the season and end of the season because, honestly, for people that work physically for 11 months basically, getting 10 days without the racquet, it’s not enough time to reset.”

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That concern isn’t new.

Swiatek has been sounding the alarm since early 2024, and she’s not alone. Players across the board, from Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz to Alexander Zverev and Daria Kasatkina, have all raised the same red flag.

The season barely pauses…

January kicks off with a full calendar, and players keep grinding through November. December may bring a few exhibition events, but for most pros, it’s hardly downtime. Top players ideally target around 18 tournaments a year, yet most end up squeezing in over 20.

Swiatek and her team have made careful adjustments to strike a balance, but even for her, the mental and physical reset is tricky.

“Because for four days you’re still thinking about the season and last days you already think about the preparation for the next one,” she admitted.

Skipping events is one way to breathe, but it isn’t without consequences.

Swiatek reportedly lost 65 ranking points last year. The WTA’s Mandatory Commitment policy gives little room to maneuver. Players must contest all four Grand Slams, at least six WTA 500 tournaments, and all ten WTA 1000 events. That tight structure has left many facing some tough scheduling calls.

For now, Swiatek is eyeing her first Australian Open title, which would also complete the Career Grand Slam.