WTA has come under constant scrutiny of late for how its management has been functioning and due to the concerns raised by the players regarding various issues. The latest issue is the fiasco surrounding the WTA Finals held at Cancun, wherein players have expressed their displeasure regarding the courts, practice facilities, and in general, the way it was organized.
Steve Simon, the current chief executive of the WTA was asked to do an interview twice, regarding the disastrous conditions in Cancun, but he declined on both occasions. Legendary tennis player, Martina Navratilova during an interview was of the view that it’s time WTA had a new leadership, preferably a woman.
Martina commented, “But for me personally, this being a woman’s association & being involved for such a long time from the beginning, & we’ve only had 3 women at the head of it. I think it’s time...” She felt that there are many women who are well qualified and it would be hard for Steve to stay in the job, as most of the indicators are pointing the other way about.
Steve Simon was asked twice to do an interview during the WTA Finals regarding the disastrous conditions in Cancun, but declined.
Martina Navratilova says it’s time for new leadership, preferably a woman:
“Maybe it’s time for new leadership. But for me personally, this being a… pic.twitter.com/GKteMP81n6
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 4, 2023
According to Navratilova, the decision to hold the WTA Finals at Cancun shouldn’t have come that late in the year. She added, “…There was a sequence of bad decisions. Ultimately, Steve Simon has been the boss for 9 years & here we are… to come to Cancun in the rainy season?“ Martina believed that it was a whole bunch of bad decisions that should be rectified by making appropriate choices.
As a leader, one has to take responsibility and listen to the people who they are leading. His response to the WTA player’s letter was also not on time. WTA needs a leader who cares about the well-being, mental and physical health, and the overall livelihood of the players.
WTA faces rebellion from women players involved in PTPA
The WTA is facing opposition from top-ranked female players who are associated with Novak Djokovic’s Professional Tennis Players Association(PTPA). Players including world no.1, Aryna Sabalenka have addressed a letter to WTA, which had a number of requests that included the implementation of minimum pay guarantees for the top 250 players, as followed on the men’s tour.
The players opined that they have been enthused with them, being involved in PTPA, which was co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2020. An entire section of the letter had been set aside to place a formal request to the WTA to recognize the association, formally.
But, as the talks with Steve Simon didn’t yield the appropriate results, players have been vocal in criticizing the shambolic way the WTA Finals were planned. Sabalenka felt that she was “disrespected” by the WTA and spoke out about the unfinished nature of the courts and stadium, just days before the commencement of the tournament.
Wimbledon champion, Marketa Vondrousova echoed similar concerns as she took to social media to illustrate sections of the court where there was dead bounce. She captioned it, “So sad for all of us.” This lack of faith in the WTA has been seized by the PTPA to enhance player power in the sport.
Marketa Vondrousova joins in with the other women who aren’t happy with the WTA Finals court conditions.
“So sad for all of us.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 31, 2023
Though the PTPA hasn’t garnered representation from the majority of players, the active involvement of top players like Ons Jabeur in its activities has added more impetus to its functioning. In the letter, requests to include a PTPA representative on the WTA Player Board and four PTPA members to be given credentials to all events of WTA, have been placed.