Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport has proclaimed that Iga Swiatek\u2019s scheduling at the Cincinnati Open \u201cdoesn\u2019t seem totally fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swiatek<\/a> advanced to the final in Cincinnati without dropping a set in wins over Elena Rybakina, Anna Kalinskaya, Sorana Cirstea and Anastasia Potapova, while she received a second round walkover from Marta Kostyuk.<\/p>\n The six time major winner\u2019s matches against Potapova, Cirstea and Kalinskaya were all scheduled for 11am local time, which was the earliest slot on the order of play.<\/p>\n Kalinskaya complained about the short turnaround before her 3-6, 4-6 quarter-final loss to Swiatek after finishing her last 16 win against Ekaterina Alexandrova late at night.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can the WTA and tournament expect athletes to perform their best when the scheduling is this unfair? After my match against Alexandrova, I got home from the site at 2:40am and didn\u2019t go to bed until 4am. I slept a bit and came to the site to practice,\u201d the Russian wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I get scheduled at 11am for tomorrow\u2019s match \u2013 how does the tournament and WTA expect me to recover and continuously adjust my sleep pattern, which is one of the most important aspects of recovery? Seems a bit one-sided.\u201d<\/p>\n While commentating on Swiatek\u2019s 7-5, 6-3 semi-final win against Rybakina for Tennis Channel, Davenport argued the Pole\u2019s scheduling gave her an edge over her opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cThose [Rybakina] matches against [Elise] Mertens and [Madison] Keys, both at night,\u201d said the three-time Grand Slam champion.<\/p>\n Iga Swiatek News<\/p>\n The 5 women with highest hard-court final win percentage: Iga Swiatek 85.7%<\/a><\/p>\n WTA Rankings Winners & Losers Cincinnati: Swiatek chasing Gauff, Sabalenka\u2019s blow, Raducanu\u2019s boost<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe Swiatek ever played even in the late afternoon. I believe she was early every single day to get used to these conditions. That\u2019s when it doesn\u2019t seem totally fair.\u201d<\/p>\n A very real point that Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76<\/a>) has made about @CincyTennis<\/a> allowing Iga Swiatek to basically play the same time throughout #CincyTennis<\/a> and how that has been an \u201cunfair\u201d competitive advantage.<\/p>\n Anna Kalinskaya was right to voice that. #WTA<\/a> @TWDTV1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3wStCmp118<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) August 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Brad Gilbert, a former coach of Coco Gauff and Andre Agassi, mentioned Swiatek\u2019s scheduling in a post on Twitter.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t even have to look at schedule and Know Iga on 1st at 11am\u201d, the former world No 4 wrote. \u201cWonder if her team ask for that or just happens that way a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Rick Macci, who coached Serena and Venus Williams, appeared to hit back at Davenport and Gilbert in a tweet.<\/p>\n \u201cCoaches players commentators saying it is unfair because the Punisher (Swiatek) was more used to the 90 degree heat because of scheduling,\u201d the American posted.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a whole different petty level of complaining just like waiting when it is raining. No excuses.<\/p>\n \u201cGreatness is mentally moulded and understands life is not fair if you ever want to go to rare air.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiatek will face ninth seed Jasmine Paolini in the Cincinnati Open final. The world No 3 is seeking her maiden title at the WTA 1000 event.<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Iga Swiatek gets bold greatness verdict and Grand Slam prediction from legendary coach<\/a><\/p>\n