Jessica Pegula has suggested improved flexibility as a short-term solution to the WTA’s schedule problem.
Pegula will lead the Tour Architecture Council, which aims to significantly improve the women’s tennis calendar.
The WTA schedule has already come under the spotlight heavily this season, with Aryna Sabalenka calling the calendar “insane”.
Sabalenka has skipped both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships this season, with several other high-profile players missing one or the other.
Pegula made use of their absence in Dubai as she clinched the title, with the American now offering a “quick fix” to the calendar.
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Jessica Pegula suggests more flexibility to improve WTA schedule
Before getting underway at Indian Wells, Pegula told Front Office Sports: “I can’t say I have an actual idea.
“I think just more flexibility would be a quick fix to just show the players that we’re trying to fix this.
“It’s probably not the perfect long-term plan.
“I do think more flexibility if you’re sick or hurt, you shouldn’t feel like you’re forced to play an event – that is something that’s pretty standard across the world.”
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Sunshine Double followed by 10 clay-court tournaments
It has indeed been a very busy WTA season so far, with many star players currently taking on Indian Wells in California.
Eva Lys withdrew injured and Rebecca Sramkova has retired hurt, which is certainly an improvement on the constant withdrawals and retirements seen in both Qatar and Dubai.
The star-studded tournament at Tennis Paradise features Pegula and many of her world-class rivals, including Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.
But just as there was between the Australian Open and Qatar and Dubai, there is a quick turnaround for the Miami Open.
The WTA 1000 tournament follows its counterpart in California immediately in the calendar, thus completing the Sunshine Swing.
| Tournament | Level | Surface | Dates |
| Indian Wells | WTA 1000 | Hard | 4-15 March |
| Miami | WTA 1000 | Hard | 17-29 March |
| Charleston | WTA 500 | Clay | 30 March – 5 April |
| Bogota | WTA 250 | Clay | 30 March – 5 April |
| Linz | WTA 500 | Clay | 6-12 April |
| Stuttgart | WTA 500 | Clay | 13-19 April |
| Rouen | WTA 250 | Clay | 13-19 April |
| Madrid | WTA 1000 | Clay | 21 April – 3 May |
| Rome | WTA 1000 | Clay | 5-17 May |
| Strasbourg | WTA 500 | Clay | 17-23 May |
| Rabat | WTA 250 | Clay | 18-23 May |
| French Open | Grand Slam | Clay | 24 May – 7 June |
After that the women’s calendar comprises 10 clay-court events from late March, including back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome.
It concludes with the French Open, which paves the way for seven grass-court tournaments from June, including Wimbledon.
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