Maria needs help, what do you think?

Question

This is from her offcial site, what do you think?

"I want all my fans to know that the WTA Tour is forcing me and several of the other top players to do a 4 hour commercial shoot for WTA Tour marketing materials. They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Rome tournament after flying 12 hours from LA. I have set my own personal rules when it comes to doing shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis. Now the WTA is telling me if I don't do this shoot they will fine me over $300,000. As you can see the WTA Tour loves to fine players. To be honest, I would love to do this and help promote the tour as much as possible, but to force me to do this shoot the day before a tier 1 tournament is just not right. I am interested in what my fans think I should do?"

Answer 1

If she feels that strongly about it she should go with option 3.

She wouldn't be happy if she did it, she'd be even more unhappy to take the fine, and the other players probably don't feel the same way she does so option 3 is better for her.

Answer 2

definitely number 4, maybe 3. the wta tour has no right to do this. they have been trying to promote the tour with the ACES race. forcing players to promote the tour is wrong

Answer 3

3 and 4... its not right to force her to do the shoot before a TIER1 tour... why cant the wta tour wait maria to have a vacant schedule then do the shoot.. its not right!!!!

Answer 4

She usually loves all the attention and  commercials and "modeling" so I dont see why she is complaining. She more so needs help with her head and start listening to her coach, Joyce, and not be stuboorn and still do as she wants. In Miami and Bausch & Lomb, he would speak to her during sets and she would just sit there with it going in one ear out the other. Many times he reapeated himself and she just wouldnt do as he said to do. She did wind up though, catching Joyce about to say a negative remark, on air, about Serena, and laughed. THAT she chose to listen to, but not the advice with what her coach was telling her. Strange.

Answer 5

I am answering this Q more for moral support.

I think more of the latter options.  3 & 4 at least.

But I would do 4 before going 3.

But Basically, I think you could do all you can, if you feel strongly that it is not right - which I do.  I don't like Force at all.

But you need to do it early - because you want the matter settled so that you can concentrate on the tennis.

The body is making a terrible mistake by this sort of stance - because they will 'lose' their own people [and others] down the track if they keep this type of "adversarial" approach to their own people!

Answer 6

Do either option 3 or 4. More power to Maria!

Answer 7

#3 and #4 is good. She certainly don't want to go about it alone. However, if all other top players are forced to do this then she is not at a disadvantage.

Answer 8

Options 3 and 4 sound appropriate.  However, a legal battle could end up costing her more than the fine they give her.  But she should take a stand for what she believes in.  The WTA sounds like a dictatorship, not a players' union.

Answer 9

i dont think she need a help, its all according to the wta rules n she needs to follow them, its only that she is tryin to b smart

Answer 10

Ask other players who feel wronged in any way by the WTA and band together to take action

Answer 11

3.

Also check out her issues with the WTA http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/05/02/... :)

Answer 12

maybe try to delay the shoot until after winning the WTA?

wouldn't that be a better promo ??

Answer 13

Its ridiculous for them to force her to do a shoot ! If she's one of their top girls for the commercial, then they should make it around her schedule. 

The wta dopes could have scheduled a photo shoot at Indian Wells or after Miami, since all the players were right there.

#4