Pliskova slams fellow players over “overloaded” schedule: “They’re always complaining… and paid more than ever”

Tennis players have been increasingly vocal about the pressures of packed schedules, pointing to the physical and mental toll of constant travel, back-to-back tournaments, and limited recovery time. From grueling Grand Slam campaigns to mandatory tour events, many argue that the relentless calendar is affecting performance, longevity, and overall well-being. Injuries, burnout, and fatigue have fueled discussions on whether the modern tour demands too much from players.

Amid these complaints, former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova offers a contrasting perspective in an interview with Flashscore. This week, she returned to competition after a year-long struggle with a debilitating ankle injury, which left her unable to walk as all ligaments and tendons were torn. Her comeback began at the Full Protein Caldas da Rainha Ladies Open, a WTA 125 event in Portugal.

When asked about the hot topic of overloaded tennis schedules, Pliskova didn’t mince words. She suggested that complaints about the tour’s demands are often overstated:

I think it’s the same, if not better, than it used to be. I know how there used to be a lot of travel. There was the Fed Cup three times a year, which doesn’t take as much time now either. Recently, an older tennis player was telling me that right after the US Open, they used to go to the Davis Cup, which was played in five sets.

Pliskova appeared particularly critical of her fellow WTA players, noting that they are now earning a lot of money for their work:

And the girls? I feel like they’re just always complaining, but I don’t know what for. They’re also paid more than they’ve ever been paid.”