What does the WTA need to do to improve their state?

Question

The U.S. Open Series is already halfway through for the women, and this much is clear: The WTA's top players could not care less. Whether it is injuries or indifference, most of the top players skipped Los Angeles, Stanford and now Montreal is also losing players to injuries. So just like last year, the U.S. Open Series is quickly devolving into a bit of a joke as far as women are concerned.

There was a time, not too long ago when I was a big fan of womens tennis and a strong believer in equal prize money. But I have to admit that currently I have very little to no interest in the Womens tour because of its sad state and I am seriously doubting my belief in equal prize money now.

Meanwhile, most of the men compete in the key U.S. Open Series events (at least the ones designated as Masters Series). What's up with the women? Why can't they stay healthy? Why does their interest seem to wane? What does the tour need to do to improve?

Answer 1

There does seem to be a bit of a lag in women's tennis at the moment.

With the retirement of Justine Henin, there is no one dominant player on the women's side. All the women at the top of the standings are not capable of dominating the game today. Ivanovic, Jankovic, Sharapova, Kusnetsova, Serena, Dementieva, Venus are all decent players but due to injuries, some are saving themselves for the Olympics and preparing for the US Open.

There's not much the WTA can do right now that will have a real effect on women's tennis. They perhaps need to shorten the season and cut out about a dozen tournaments. It's always difficult to know what to cut though. It won't do much for women like Venus and Serena since they have already cut back their schedules due to injuries and other things.

I, like many others am losing interest fast in women's tennis.

Answer 2

There are two major reasons for all the injuries in tennis today for both the men as well as the women.

1. Asphalt - Back in the beginning of the Open Era there weren't too many tournaments played on hard courts. Most were on clay or grass. These surfaces are much easier on the body and grass courts proved perfect for involving a serve and volley style which made points shorter.

2. Power Game - Lots of culprits here to blame. Racquet manufacturers, tennis teachers, court surfaces, strength coaches, etc.

Tennis on the women's side used to be about finesse and strategy and it was beautiful to watch. Women's tennis now is all mindless ball-bashing and grunting. Because of light-weight frames and larger sweet spots, players are swinging as hard as they can on every shot which puts tremendous stress on shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, and knees.

How to help the women's game become more enjoyable to watch?

My list of suggestions in no particular order of importance:

1. No frame over 95 sq. inches big or under 11 ounces.

2. Fewer hard-court tournaments.

3. Outlaw excessive grunting and shrieking.

4. Stop promoting the women on the WTA Tour as s*x symbols.

5. Back off on the prize money (with endorsement deals these players aren't hungry enough).

6. ESPN, stop showing matches of the same American players on replay when other live matches are going on. I don't CARE what country a person represents or is from.

Answer 3

I think there is a just a transitioning period going on. I also was a HUGE fan of women's tennis since the late 90's, but now I find myself caring more about the ATP and WTA. I think what happened is that there has been sooo many amazing players in the WTA in the late 90s-early 00's such as The Williams Sisters, Caparati (sp?)Lindsay Davenport, Hingis, Graf, Seles Henin, Clijsters and a few others. So these great players made the sport fantastic to watch. Right now, we can't say the same thing about the WTA. All that is left of that group are the Williams Sisters and Davenport, who are kind of near the brink of retirement.

I can't really say what the WTA can do...I really don't think they can do anything. They can't tell the players not to get injured; what good would that do? I just think we have to wait for the tour to get some amazing players, not saying there aren't any on the tour right now but I don't think they are nearly on the same level as the players that I have mentioned before.