Talk has continued in the tennis world over the demands which are now put on players as a result of the current schedule.
World no. 2 and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek recently criticised the high amount of mandatory tournaments for players to enter on the WTA Tour each year.
The 24-year-old described the current schedule as "too long and too intense", while being "impossible" to navigate for the world's top players.
The Pole then shockingly suggested that she could potentially skip mandatory events down the line to look after her body.
Swiatek's comments came off the back of her Round of 32 opponent at the China Open, Camila Osorio, retiring mid-match due to an injury issue.
Worryingly, Osorio was one of five players to retire from matches in Beijing on Monday (September 29).
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Qinwen Zheng responds to Swiatek's comments
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One of the other players to retire at the China Open was Qinwen Zheng, after she felt discomfort in her recently operated on right elbow in the third set of her match against Linda Noskova.
The Chinese star was asked about her Swiatek's recent comments in her post-match news conference after retiring in Beijing.
Despite struggling on her return from injury, Zheng strongly disagrees with the criticism that her fellow WTA Tour competitor has for the schedule.
"I don’t think for professional player the calendar is too much because the strongest players survive, and that's the rules in my head," the 22-year-old commented.
"I mean, this is part of the games. As a professional player, this is what it is because we have to play that many tournament because there is in the calendar," she added.
Zheng then stressed that she was happy with entering the China Open even after recently undergoing surgery.
"I'm coming from surgery, which is really rush decision for me to play here. But also it is the right decision for me because I want to see where my body is right now," she explained.
Swiatek is yet to respond to Zheng's comments but there is sure to remain discussion over the current demands put on tennis players from relevant voices in the near future.
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