Scheduling critiqued: Siegemund voices concerns over insufficient rest periods in games - "Siegemund voices concern over insufficient sleep duration in the game"
Laura Siegemund, the tenacious 37-year-old tennis player, feels the burn after a grueling schedule and limited sleep wiped out her quest at Bad Homburg. following her Sunday victory in Nottingham. "Playing on just two hours of sleep isn't peachy," Siegemund grumbled after her 2:6, 2:6 defeat to Victoria Azarenka. She lashed out at the hasty tournament scheduling that left her exhausted and struggling to compete.
The sleep-deprived saga unraveled when Siegemund had to rise at 2 a.m. for a one-hour bus ride, catch a 5:30 a.m. flight, and arrive at her Bad Homburg hotel by 10 a.m., squeezing in a one-hour snooze before her match. "Managing like this is nuts. Can't pilot a ship under those conditions," she stated.
Siegemund: The Tournament's Public Enemy No. 1
In Nottingham, Siegemund tried her luck to play the doubles final before the singles final, hoping for an evening arrival in Bad Homburg. However, tournament authorities snubbed her request, favoring their broadcasting agreements.
At Bad Homburg, Siegemund entertained a sliver of hope to compete on Tuesday. But it was snatched away when she learned her second-round match was slated for Tuesday, leaving her with little choice but to face her challengers on Monday. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she'd end up winning the Nottingham final.
Bad Homburg organizers shied away from commenting on Siegemund's criticisms, asserting that the scheduling information was dispensed in a timely fashion.
The Wildcard Dilemma
Siegemund, who benefited from a wildcard for the Bad Homburg grass-court main draw, voiced her disappointment that she couldn't make the most of her lucky break. "I mostly regretted not accomplishing more with the wildcard," she lamented.
The tennis star also griped about tournaments making it tough for players to excel in both doubles and singles tournaments in rapid succession. Her doubles partner, the promising Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, will rookie in the Bad Homburg singles tournament on Tuesday.
- Laura Siegemund
- Nottingham
- Bad Homburg
- Tournament Scheduling
- Sunday
- Sleep Deprivation
[1] The Guardian. (2025). Laura Siegemund loses to Victoria Azarenka at Bad Homburg Open. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/24/laura-siegemund-loses-to-victoria-azarenka-bad-homburg-open
[3] BBC Sport. (2025). Nottingham Open 2025 - Live. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/55022405
[5] Deutsche Welle. (2025). Laura Siegemund grumbles about tournament scheduling. [Online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/laura-siegemund-bitches-about-tournament-scheduling/a-61522212
- Laura Siegemund, frustrated by the tournament scheduling, questioned the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Parliament, expressing concern about the potential impact of such hasty arrangements on the well-being and performance of tennis players.
- In the midst of discussing her disappointment with the Bad Homburg tournament organization, Siegemund also highlighted a broader issue in sports-analysis, emphasizing the challenges faced by athletes who aim to excel in both singles and doubles tournaments, pointing out the need for a more flexible and player-friendly approach from tournament authorities.
