Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova collide on Cancun court conditions after WTA Finals clash

The discourse surrounding the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun’s Center Court has been more intense than many of the matches themselves, reaching a fever-pitch following Iga Swiatek’s comeback win over Marketa Vondrousova.

Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, let loose about what she and Aryna Sabalenka have deemed subpar conditions after squandering a 5-2 first set lead to lose, 7-6 (3), 6-0 in her WTA Finals debut.

“The court is honestly very bad,” she said on Monday. “It's like, it's very crazy. You know it like bounces everywhere and I feel like it's almost like, I don't know, like bad clay or grass courts. It's not even hard courts. So I'm not saying that because I lost, you know, I felt the same way at the practice also so I don't think this court is very good for the WTA Finals to be honest.”

Vondrousova further voiced her displeasure on social media, writing a statement on her Instagram stories:

“My first WTA finals is not at all what I imagined,” she wrote. “We work hard all year to get to the finals and in the end it's just a disappointment. Stadium is not at all ready for the matches and to me it feels like the people from WTA are absolutely not interested in how we—who are supposed to play on that court—feel. We do not feel that anyone listens to us and is interested in our opinion. very sad.

“On the another note I am really grateful to all the people here in Mexico for being so nice and very helpful with everything.”

The complaints come on the heels of a bombshell story published by The Athletic, one that outlines the myriad ways WTA players have felt disrespected by the tour. Among others, Vondrousova and Sabalenka have signed an as-yet unanswered letter voicing their displeasure.

Swiatek, who reportedly stood apart from but in solidarity with her fellow players, had a more nuanced take to the conditions following her victory.

“Obviously it's not a positive thing for any of us,” said the world No. 2. “But I think you know, the main thing is not focusing on that and just doing your job. Sometimes it bounces weirdly on clay or on the grass as well. So, I tried to think, you know, in that perspective and just do my job. For sure it's not comfortable and, and the fact that we also didn't have time to practice on this court, you know? But at the end it doesn't really matter because all of us have the same court and the same conditions.”

While the high-minded approach may help Swiatek win her first WTA Finals, the tour’s 50th anniversary has quickly become a party that its own players are reluctant to attend.