The WTA Guadalajara Open concluded on September 23 in the namesake city of Mexico, where Maria Sakkari won her maiden title. She was the runner up in the inaugural event last year, and managed to go one step further this time.
Being a Masters 1000 event, Sakkari won 900 points to move closer to World No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the WTA rankings. Despite the event’s benefits to players, a host of top-ten players did not participate in it. The ramifications of their withdrawals were that the WTA took a massive financial hit to its purse.
Why was WTA forced to pay $350,000 fine to Guadalajara?
As per official WTA rules, there is a fine to be paid by the tennis body to tournament organizers if a certain number of top-ten players withdraw from the event. The fines vary if the event is a mandatory Masters 1000 tournament or if it is non-mandatory.
For mandatory events, if all top ten players participate, no fine is levied on the WTA. If nine players take part, $100,000 is to be paid. If it is 8, then the cost is $250,000. For seven or fewer top-ten players in the fold, a maximum of $500,000 is to be given.
As the Guadalajara Open is a non-mandatory event, the rules change. For seven of the top ten players’ participation, no fine is required. For 6, it is $100,000. For 5, it is $200,000 and for 4 or less, it is $350,000.
In Mexico, only Maria Sakkari, Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia were those from the top-ten who participated. Players like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff withdrew due to scheduling conflicts and possible fatigue from the US Open.
Thus, the WTA had to pay the Guadalajara officials $350,000 in fines.
WTA scheduling problem remains despite Iga Swiatek callout
Speaking during the Canadian Open, World No. 1 player Iga Swiatek lambasted authorities for their late-night scheduling of matches and games played during rainy conditions. She called them out to focus on the players’ interests and not those of fans and sponsors.
“We should focus more on what is healthy for players because we have to compete every week,â she said. âThe tour is so intense with travel and not actually having two days of calm and not working that it would be nice in the future to focus on players, especially next year when there will be more and more mandatory tournaments.â
âIn Rome, I already told you guys the scheduling is crazy. But then during the clay season in Rome and Madrid I played four matches close to midnight or after midnight I finished them,” she added.
Officials have supported their stance by stating that the focus was on primetime broadcasting rights, when fans tuned in to watch the games.
Stars like Rybakina have seconded Swiatek’s words by calling the WTA leadership as âlittle bit weakâ. Swiatek had sympathy for the players taking part in late night matches.
âAryna played the first day and she honestly said she was exhausted and couldnât recover from Madrid and she lost,â she said.
What are your opinions on the intense tour schedule for women players? Should the scheduling become relaxed in order to avoid withdrawals and payment of fines? Let us know in the comments section below.
