Tennis Forum banner

WTA Championships at the beginning of the season?

Suggestion: Move the championships to the beginning of the year

10K views 185 replies 60 participants last post by  Hurley 
#1 ·
Why not kick off the new season with the best players, freshly rested, battling it out to see who can set the tone for the upcoming season?

Or, we can just have the dregs of injured, exhausted, wounded players playing in a tournament that isn't given the respect it merits.

Having the top-ranked players square off in a round robin should be considered just as prestigious as a major, not so much less. Part of the problem is that burnt out players after the major hype is done does not translate into more hype.

As for the YEC name... it was originally called WTA Championships. I do not believe it was played at year's end for quite a long time.

I also think this particular tournament could consider going back to best of 5 for the final only.
 
#2 ·
What I said in the other topic which is also relevant:

superstition said:
Serena is just hitting home why it should happen. You already answered your question yourself when you said the players are exhausted. You keep ignoring your own answer.

Player lobbying results in changes in sports, believe it or not. I think Serena is doing the right thing sending the message that the YEC just isn't working out as it currently is being done.

The question is ... will tennis listen or will they instead distract themselves by worrying about her as a person.
 
#7 ·
No, because they are rusty
It's worse to be fresh than it is to be burnt-out or injured — to the point of not playing at all?

and some might tank for Australian Open.
That's their choice. A player can tank any tournament, including by playing poorly at the end of the year when they're much more likely to have a reason to do so (because they're tired and the major hype has ended).
 
#4 ·
If it's at the beginning of the year, the best players will pull the plug on the season right after the US Open. I don't see Serena traveling to China to end her season at Beijing. :lol: At the end of the day, this will eventually shorten the season to January-September.

I think a much better fix involves altering the mandatory tournaments for top players. Maybe if you don't force them to play tournaments like Wuhan, they'll show up at Singapore more prepared. Just a thought.
 
#9 ·
If it's at the beginning of the year, the best players will pull the plug on the season right after the US Open. I don't see Serena traveling to China to end her season at Beijing. :lol: At the end of the day, this will eventually shorten the season to January-September.
Push back the AO. The heat problem is already massive anyway. If that isn't a good idea then:

The whole calendar could be pushed back some. Or, you could move some plum tournaments back.

Finally, you could just push back the US Open. Is there a big reason why it needs to be held when it's held and not later? The heat problem could be lessened if it's held in the fall.
 
#8 ·
Honestly, what's stupid is your reply.

Obviously the rankings would apply at the beginning of the year. :rolleyes:
 
#6 ·
The whole "the players are exhausted" thing is so exaggerated. There's been quality tennis played at the YEC for as long as I can remember, even in years when everyone expected a mess. Most years give us at least a couple of classic matches. Just because they go through the motions in Wuhan doesn't mean they can't dig deep at the YEC.

(Then they all go off around the world to play €xhibition$ all off season anyway, which is why you should never take players seriously when they whinge about exhaustion).
 
#11 ·
How many top players are skipping the YEC because of injuries, fatigue, and not caring?

Why did the tour function OK when it was near the beginning of the season as it was in the past as far as I know?
 
#15 ·
But they wouldn't give it their all when they're rested and the event is positioned as setting the tone for the upcoming major hype?

If your assertion is so true, also... where is Serena?
 
#16 ·
superstition said:
Finally, you could just push back the US Open. Is there a big reason why it needs to be held when it's held and not later? The heat problem could be lessened if it's held in the fall.
thoughts on this?
 
#34 ·
I think pushing back the US Open could be a good thing. However the issue with many Grand SLams are they are at a time where it is good locally for attendance and maybe even to avoid sporting clashes with other sports big in that country. If Australia pushes the Oz Open further ack then they clash with Rugby. If that isn't an issue and the weather could be dependable, have the US Open a fair bit later. But I doubt it could be held ages later, constant weather interuptions year in and year out would be worse for the interest in the game.

The ATP/WTA simply have to accept that the YEC will never rival a grand slam and as Andy Murray has shown, a potential Davis Cup win either.
 
#20 ·
superstition said:
Why do we need two majors with extreme heat problems? Is tennis supposed to be the equivalent of a Richard Bachman novella?
"From 1972 to 1974, the event was held in October, before switching to...

March from 1975 until 1986."

:oh:
 
#21 ·
Just because one player doesn't want to play it doesn't mean the system is a failure. I guarantee there are hundreds of players who would absolutely love to have a YEC spot and would never dream of pulling out 3 weeks before like Serena did. I understand Serena's decision and her position and her feelings are true to her, but her pulling out doesn't mean that the YEC needs to be revolutionized.
 
#22 ·
her pulling out doesn't mean that the YEC needs to be revolutionized.
Perhaps..

But...

1) Why was the championships played in March for a decade without that being a big problem for the tour?

2) Why do we need two majors with extreme heat problems? I would really like to see the justification for this question.
 
#24 ·
I like it as a finale to the season. Without it I think after September it would sort of fizzle out into the off season.
If the US Open were held in the fall then you think it would be ignored?

It's better to hold it during extreme heat conditions instead?

It's better to have the AO held when it is to have extreme heat conditions?

This is good for the sport?
 
#29 ·
Terrible idea
YEC ARE PLAYED AT YEAR END
Agreed some players can be tired or have injuries but the cream always rises to the top
Just look at the past winners for the last 20 + years. No scrubs there
 
#33 ·
Terrible idea
YEC ARE PLAYED AT YEAR END
I guess you missed the fact that the championships was played in October at the very beginning

then in March for a decade.

:rolleyes:
You asked what we thought. I apologize for disagreeing. I would rather not radically change tennis.
Disagreement is fine but faulty logic isn't adequate.
 
#35 ·
At least others have made the effort to try.
 
#38 ·
I believe part of the responsibility falls on the player to adequately prepare for the "extreme heat conditions" you speak of. When 5 people have cramping issues and 123 don't, I don't think we really need to change all that much, especially when there are rules in place to help with that sort of thing. Also, I don't see how it's faulty logic to say in response to the idea of moving two of the slams because they are too hot that we cannot control everything. If you want to move the US Open and the Australian Open, I assume you want to also move Brisbane, Sydney, Canada, Stanford, Cincinnati, and New Haven. That is a change I don't want because I enjoy watching and following tennis the way it is. Clearly we disagree with each other, but there's no need to be rude about it.
 
#41 ·
I believe part of the responsibility falls on the player to adequately prepare for the "extreme heat conditions" you speak of. When 5 people have cramping issues and 123 don't, I don't think we really need to change all that much, especially when there are rules in place to help with that sort of thing.
No. We do not need players like Dancevic hallucinating and players like Hingis losing finals to the heat rather than the opponent. It's bad tennis and it's bad humanity.

All the players are important and pretending that people are to blame for the fact that the human body cannot be magically immunized to extreme heat is not the answer.

Also, I don't see how it's faulty logic to say in response to the idea of moving two of the slams because they are too hot that we cannot control everything.
It's totally faulty. Of course people can control the tennis schedule. It didn't come down from the heavens.

I enjoy watching and following tennis the way it is.
That you think extreme heat suffering for players is less important than your comfort as a viewer...

Clearly we disagree with each other, but there's no need to be rude about it.
I haven't been rude.
 
#42 ·
Why not kick off the new season with the best players, freshly rested, battling it out to see who can set the tone for the upcoming season?

Or, we can just have the dregs of injured, exhausted, wounded players playing in a tournament that isn't given the respect it merits.

Having the top-ranked players square off in a round robin should be considered just as prestigious as a major, not so much less. Part of the problem is that burnt out players after the major hype is done does not translate into more hype.

As for the YEC name... it was originally called WTA Championships. I do not believe it was played at year's end for quite a long time.

I also think this particular tournament could consider going back to best of 5 for the final only.
Somehow I don't believe that superstition presents this idea with the best for the players in mind :lol:
 
#44 ·
Is that the best you can do?
 
#62 ·
argumentum ad populum

is a fallacy

The poll is mainly just for trivial interest.

Why are people still responding to MashaFan :spit:
:oh:

No, the WTA Finals is fine scheduled in the final part of the calendar. Championships are best held at the end of the season.
The WTA did that for a little while when the championships were first created and then changed it to March for a decade.
I suspect the other yes vote is a sympathy vote, a kind gesture.
A decade of sympathy is very sympathetic.
 
#54 ·
Capriati beat Hingis because she dealt with the heat better. Martina even said she was dehydrated. If it is too hot for everyone safety-wise, play should be stopped. But the whole tournament does not need to be moved because of a few hours. Tennis is not a sport of fairness. Physicality is part of the game, and you have to prepare yourself accordingly. @superstition you've been very dismissive of everyone else's claims. I'm sorry people like the YEC at the end of the year, but to me it simply makes more sense.
 
#55 ·
Capriati beat Hingis because she dealt with the heat better. Martina even said she was dehydrated. If it is too hot for everyone safety-wise, play should be stopped. But the whole tournament does not need to be moved because of a few hours. Tennis is not a sport of fairness. Physicality is part of the game, and you have to prepare yourself accordingly. @superstition you've been very dismissive of everyone else's claims. I'm sorry people like the YEC at the end of the year, but to me it simply makes more sense.
Amen!

Amen!

But he's an adult for heavens sake :haha:
 
#57 ·
The only thing that needs moving is the location, particularly back to its original home at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue.
 
#58 ·
I wish they would move it to Adelaide, actually, it always seemed to be more reasonable in terms of heat there when they had the Formula 1.
 
#63 ·
Year Champion Runner-up Score in final
1972 United States Chris Evert Australia Kerry Melville Reid 7–5, 6–4
1973 United States Chris Evert (2) United States Nancy Richey Gunter 6–3, 6–3
1974 Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley United States Chris Evert 6–3, 6–4
1975 United States Chris Evert (3) United States Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–2
1976 Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley (2) United States Chris Evert 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
1977 United States Chris Evert (4) United Kingdom Sue Barker 2–6, 6–1, 6–1
1978 United States Martina Navratilova Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley 7–6(7–0), 6–4
1979 United States Martina Navratilova (2) United States Tracy Austin 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1980 United States Tracy Austin United States Martina Navratilova 6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1981 United States Martina Navratilova (3) United States Andrea Jaeger 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1982 Germany Sylvia Hanika United States Martina Navratilova 1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1983 United States Martina Navratilova (4) United States Chris Evert 6–2, 6–0
1984 United States Martina Navratilova (5) United States Chris Evert 6–3, 7–5, 6–1
1985 United States Martina Navratilova (6) Czechoslovakia Helena Suková 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
1986 (Mar.) United States Martina Navratilova (7) Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková 6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–1
1986 (Nov.) United States Martina Navratilova (8) Germany Steffi Graf 7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2
1987 Germany Steffi Graf Argentina Gabriela Sabatini 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1988 Argentina Gabriela Sabatini United States Pam Shriver 7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1989 Germany Steffi Graf (2) United States Martina Navratilova 6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
1990 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles Argentina Gabriela Sabatini 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1991 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles (2) United States Martina Navratilova 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1992 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles (3) United States Martina Navratilova 7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1993 Germany Steffi Graf (3) Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1994 Argentina Gabriela Sabatini (2) United States Lindsay Davenport 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1995 Germany Steffi Graf (4) Germany Anke Huber 6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
1996 Germany Steffi Graf (5) Switzerland Martina Hingis 6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0
1997 Czech Republic Jana Novotná France Mary Pierce 7–6(7–4), 6–2, 6–3
1998 Switzerland Martina Hingis United States Lindsay Davenport 7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1999 United States Lindsay Davenport Switzerland Martina Hingis 6–4, 6–2
2000 Switzerland Martina Hingis (2) United States Monica Seles 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4
2001 United States Serena Williams United States Lindsay Davenport walkover
2002 Belgium Kim Clijsters United States Serena Williams 7–5, 6–3
2003 Belgium Kim Clijsters (2) France Amélie Mauresmo 6–2, 6–0
2004 Russia Maria Sharapova United States Serena Williams 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
2005 France Amélie Mauresmo France Mary Pierce 5–7, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
2006 Belgium Justine Henin France Amélie Mauresmo 6–4, 6–3
2007 Belgium Justine Henin (2) Russia Maria Sharapova 5–7, 7–5, 6–3
2008 United States Venus Williams Russia Vera Zvonareva 6–7(5–7), 6–0, 6–2
2009 United States Serena Williams (2) United States Venus Williams 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
2010 Belgium Kim Clijsters (3) Denmark Caroline Wozniacki 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2011 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová Belarus Victoria Azarenka 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
2012 United States Serena Williams (3) Russia Maria Sharapova 6–4, 6–3
2013 United States Serena Williams (4) China Li Na 2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2014 United States Serena Williams (5) Romania Simona Halep 6–3, 6–0
 
#65 ·
So, since 10 years of those were played near the beginning of the season this proves that the championships would be ruined by purposeful tanking (with the best of 5 format no less, for quite some time)?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top