Better pay, longer tour considered for WTA

With lower-level players reeling financially from the shutdown over the coronavirus, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said Tuesday it was working to boost players’ earnings when the sport resumes and may extend the 2020 season.

The season screeched to a halt in early March due to the virus, leaving players in the lowest tiers without any opportunity to earn their livelihoods.

“The WTA is diligently working with our tournaments to maximize earning possibilities when the professional tennis circuit is able to resume and is considering an extension to the current 44-week season to enable more tournaments to take place,” the association said in a statement answering questions from Reuters.

“It is our sincere hope to return to the court as soon as possible — when the health and safety or our players, fans and staff can be guaranteed, we will be back competing.”

The men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour and the WTA suspended all tournaments until June 7 after countries started locking down borders to contain the coronavirus.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the sport’s governing body, also postponed its lower-tier World Tennis Tour until June 8.

The Nov. 1-8 WTA finals is the season-ending tournament on the women’s tour calendar before the season heads into a break of eight to 10 weeks.

In recent weeks, professional players, who solely depend on match earnings, have spoken about their financial concerns.

“We wish there was a way everyone, especially those in need the most, could be compensated at the level they were expecting, but the needs are so great and the WTA unfortunately is not in a financial position to do that,” the WTA said. Reuters