Kazakh tennis player Elena Rybakina has joined leading figures in the women's game to criticise the schedule for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The tennis event at the 2028 Summer Games is set to begin just three days after the conclusion of Wimbledon, prompting strong dissatisfaction from top competitors.
Speaking to British newspaper The Guardian, Rybakina said it was crazy to know the Olympic event starts only a few days after Wimbledon. She noted that dates were shifted this year and expressed hope that changes would be made next year to create a more convenient schedule for everyone.
Her concerns mirror those expressed by Aryna Sabalenka, who stressed that the Olympic Games are a major occasion held only once every four years. Sabalenka stated that organisers should open up the calendar to provide at least a one-week break, warning that the current timing places too great a strain on the body.
Player concerns over calendar pressures
Polish star Iga Swiatek has also voiced strong opposition to the demanding calendar, telling The Guardian that the overall schedule is crazy. Swiatek admitted she had complained about the issue for years, noting that while critics initially dismissed her as a crybaby, an increasing number of players now share her view.
Swiatek highlighted the extreme physical demand on any player who reaches the Wimbledon final and must immediately travel to the other side of the world to compete on hard courts. The 2028 Games in Los Angeles will require players to make a flight lasting more than 10 hours one way following the grass-court tournament.
Rybakina, Swiatek and Sabalenka are all Grand Slam champions competing at the highest level of professional tennis. The transition from the grass courts of London to hard courts in California presents a major physical challenge for elite players during a congested summer schedule.
Rybakina returns to action on Monday evening when she tests the form of Magdalena Frech in a match at the WTA tournament in Cincinnati.
