As the grass courts of Wimbledon heat up for another fortnight of high-stakes tennis, one of the sport’s biggest stars is using her platform to call out what she says is a systemic problem: burnout.

Iga Świątek, currently ranked No. 4 in the world and seeded eighth at Wimbledon 2025, didn’t hold back when asked about the mental health toll of the relentless tennis calendar. The 23-year-old four-time French Open champion described the current structure as too intense and unsustainable echoing the concerns voiced in the recent lawsuit by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).

The scheduling is super intense. There’s no point for us to play over 20 tournaments in a year Świątek told reporters. It’s just pressure. Constant pressure.

Skipping Poland, Facing Pressure

Świątek made headlines earlier this year when she skipped Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier, a decision she described as heart-wrenching. The reason? A system that punishes players with ranking penalties if they don’t participate in certain WTA 500 and mandatory events.

Sometimes we need to sacrifice playing for your country because we need to keep up with playing these WTA 500s she said. Otherwise, we get a zero in the ranking.

Świątek’s remarks have ignited fresh debate about player welfare in professional tennis, with many agreeing that the push to constantly travel, compete, and defend ranking points is causing more harm than fans realize.

“The Quality Would Be Better”

One of the most striking parts of Świątek’s statement? Her belief that fans wouldn’t mind less tennis if it meant better tennis.

I think people would still watch tennis, maybe even more, if we played fewer tournaments,” she added. The quality would be better.

The PTPA lawsuit, filed in March, describes the current 11-month tour as a model that compromises athlete health, undermines careers and discourages longevity. Świątek’s comments, coming at the heart of the grass season, lend further weight to that argument.

Tears on Grass, But Growth Too

Despite the challenges, Świątek is not backing down. After falling to Jessica Pegula in the final of the Bad Homburg Open last weekend—where she was seen in tears after the match—the Polish star remains optimistic.

She now faces Polina Kudermetova in the first round of Wimbledon, and though grass remains her most difficult surface she believes she’s turning a corner.

It’s still a difficult surface still tricky Świątek said. But every year, it feels a little easier to get used to it.

Balancing Wins and Well-being

The bigger issue remains unresolved: Can the modern game support both peak performance and personal well-being? Świątek, still early in her career yet already a multiple Grand Slam winner, is increasingly becoming a voice of reason in a sport that demands constant motion.

As tennis’ elite descend on London, the former No. 1’s message is loud and clear—change is overdue.