Elena Rybakina has expressed discontent after being left uninformed about the WTA's new Architecture Council, led by Jessica Pegula, aimed at reshaping the tennis schedule. The Kazakh player highlighted communication issues during a press conference at the Indian Wells Open. Her comments come amid ongoing concerns about the demanding calendar and player injuries.
Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, has long criticized the grueling WTA calendar for its impact on players' physical and mental health. At a press conference during the Indian Wells Open on March 4, 2026, she addressed the newly formed Architecture Council, which seeks to balance the schedule and improve recovery periods.
Rybakina emphasized the need for player input, stating, “I think it’s important to not only create a new, let’s say, group of people. It’s important to hear the players. I honestly have no idea what’s happening with these kinds of decisions.” She added, “I’m not really in touch with anyone. I just know that there is some changes, or hopefully it’s going to be some changes.” The world No. 1 further noted, “But personally, no one came to ask my opinion or, like, we can talk about this on the press conferences, but yeah, I don’t know what’s gonna happen. So this is not the question to me, for sure.”
These remarks underscore broader frustrations. Recently, Rybakina retired from her Round of 16 match at the Dubai Tennis Championships against Antonia Ružić due to physical unwellness and withdrew from the subsequent WTA 1000 event to avoid injury. Similar issues affect others: Aryna Sabalenka pulled out of Dubai with a right hip injury, previously describing the calendar as “insane,” while Iga Swiatek has also voiced concerns. Dubai saw 23 withdrawals this year, reflecting the tour's strain.
Jessica Pegula, the council chair and world No. 5, acknowledged the challenges in Dubai, saying, “I know that the schedule is very tough, and it’s not easy. I think at some point in the year, if you do have a few good results, some weeks unfortunately do become a little bit of a sacrifice if you’re thinking long term. I can’t knock any player that wants to make that decision for themselves.” Pegula aims to introduce larger gaps between tournaments.
Meanwhile, the WTA continues expanding: early discussions explore adding a women's draw to the Monte Carlo Masters, with director David Massey noting, “A women’s draw? We are open to it. It’s still a project, perhaps in the future.” Additionally, the Memphis Classic, a WTA 250 event on outdoor hard courts with a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles, is set for the week of July 27, replacing the Cleveland tournament.
