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11K views 154 replies 69 participants last post by  goldenlox 
#1 ·
Agnieszka Radwanska would like to see another change in the WTA schedule, saying the WTA Elite Trophy should not be mandatory for players who qualify.

The 26-year-old, who earlier this week called for the season to be reduced to nine months, said the required tournament further increased the length of the season. The new WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, a 10-player round-robin event, features players who did not qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore.

"I think, for example, the smaller Masters in, or I don't know how you can call it, in Zhuhai, I think that's something that shouldn't be really mandatory for the players," Radwanska said. "I think it has to be your choice, especially that it's after Singapore. So it makes your season much longer. Two weeks does a lot for us."

The event is meant to host players ranked from No. 9 through No. 19, as well as one wildcard entry. Players who qualify are required to compete, though two or more players who are alternates for Singapore do not have to participate.

Radwanska, currently ranked No. 8, also criticized the amount of points given at the event, suggesting it would have a significant effect on season-end rankings, particularly around the edges of the Top 10.

''I think there's also too much points there. I mean, [you're] ending after Singapore, for example, No. 9. Then someone's getting 700 points. Suddenly from No. 9, you're No. 12. You thought you finish No. 10," she said. "I think that's couple things about that should really change."

Not yet qualified for Singapore but clearly not interested in Zhuhai. ;)
 
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#2 ·
I'll just repost what I said in the other thread where this was mentioned, verbatim:

If Zuhai was not mandatory, then so many eligible players would give it a miss (regardless of the points on offer) that the tournament would lose all credibility. The location would be largely to blame for that, along with the basic concept of a second-string championship. Most of the players ranked from 11-20 would be European or American. Those that did not leave the Far East after Beijing would have left after Hong Kong/Tianjin. Then they have to go back two weeks later, or else cool their heels for that time.
 
#3 ·
''I think there's also too much points there. I mean, [you're] ending after Singapore, for example, No. 9. Then someone's getting 700 points. Suddenly from No. 9, you're No. 12. You thought you finish No. 10," she said. "I think that's couple things about that should really change."
Any doubt Aga's been reading this forum? :)
 
#6 ·
Aga remarks align with her previous comments about the season's length. I don't understand why this event is required either. Let those who wish to play in this nonevent play. The others will probably want to relax a bit before prepping for the next season and lucrative exhibitions. Also, plenty of posters here have commented negatively on the number of points on offer at this event. Let us see if they can agree with Aga, even though they hate Aga. If Aga were truly a vulture, as some claim, she'd relish the opportunity to play in Zhuhai. The last time attendance was decent at this event, it was called something else and it happened in Bali.




I am sure she is able think for herself and doesn't need to parrot the tripe posted on TF.

I agree with her. It's just an irrelevant tournament. But she'll probably get her butt there if she doesn't qualify for Singapore :shrug:
Required is the key word.
 
#4 ·
She just wants to play exhos at end of season.

Season should be longer by a month to get rid of ITPL
 
#5 ·
I agree with her. It's just an irrelevant tournament. But she'll probably get her butt there if she doesn't qualify for Singapore :shrug:
 
#9 ·
Its the first year and the WTA wants this to succeed. Certainly a multi-millionaire player who already had a long year might want to stop now.

I dont know of any solution. If Serena wants a vacation, there's nothing the WTA can do about it. Plus, the WTA wants to have good relationship with Serena even after she's retired.
In a similar way, the WTA doesnt want Aga feeling abused by the WTA. They probably will deal with this on a case by case basis. But they want stars like Wozniacki & Radwanska to play this new event. It helps to brand it.
 
#13 ·
Time: 2-8 November 2015

Score: 700

Total prize money: US$2,150,000

(Entry conditions: Mandatory tournament; singles players ranking from 9th to 19th while doubles players ranking from 9th to 12th in WTA annual ranking list; plus 1 wild card for singles and 2 wild cards for doubles)


How much money get the Winner? (My guess over 2 million danish kroner)
 
#14 ·
This Zuhai thing appeared out of nowhere like Wuhan in 2014.
 
#29 ·
Bali Champions Event
Champions Event in Bulgaria
No? :shrug:
 
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#16 ·
This should go next year. Stacey is out :shrug:
 
#17 ·
Sam's been carrying a 0 on her ranking for all of 2015 for missing the MM-YECs last year. This, despite the fact she only "qualified" for the event right at the end of the year in Osaka, and that she decided not to play because she was using the off-season to deal with injuries -_-
 
#26 ·
Shit is about to hit the fan in Asia-Pacific.

The players aren't even pretending to hiding their strong disinterest for these tournaments and the TDs won't give away millions of dollars to C-List players for much longer.
Well if these said players then play every fucking tournamnent available in Asia-Pacific then I don't see the problem for them :shrug:

Aga played Wuhan last year, so she could have skipped it this year. This year schedule: Tokyo, Wuhan, Beijing, Tianjin :spit: Only Guangzhou is missing She also plays Tokyo every year. Hell, a couple of years ago she played Seoul :lol:
 
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#24 ·
Gotta love Queen Vulture :worship:

Bitches and moans about being compelled to play these tournaments when it's tournaments like these that have been her "bread and butter." At least she has a chance of winning this, unlike Singapore. The girl who bitches about the system the most is the one who has benefited the most from it. :baby:
 
#32 ·
Yes, it shouldn't be mandatory and she should have a right to play in both - YEC and Zhuhai. As she said "season is too long" (and there's too much events, poor Radwanska doesn't know which to vulture).
 
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#43 ·
Have to say she's spot on about Zhuhai's being mandatory. Having mandatory tournaments at all is simply dumb. Why can't the WTA just allow these journeywomen to select where and when they want to play? If their name is not Sarin or Martha, they can't get away with playing few tournaments/ playing poorly/ not vulturing, or they'd be slipping in the rankings and losing endorsements/ prize money.
She is not the person to be commenting on the points system, though, what with all the vulturing.
 
#44 ·
because since pova and serena can almost do whatever they want as far as their schedule is concerned - serena not going to singapore and pova always skipping the doha/dubai combo is an example- , they need at least some top players to commit to tournaments where that are a lot of money involved, otherwise they would have issues selling the tickets/tv rights
 
#45 ·
She is complaining because the ultimate goal is for players to qualify for Singapore. However, if they miss by a bit, they qualify for Zhuhai instead where it makes their season a week longer and they cannot escape it due to it being mandatory.
 
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#46 ·
But she's playing another week during the IPTL, willingly (plus whatever other exhibitions she has signed up for, if any). So all her complaints about not having enough time off are as hypocritical as it gets
 
#49 ·
They should bring back WTA Championships back so that marquee players can play internationals tourney who arent profiting anything.

They want to raise the popularity of those tournaments, but after removing it, random players have won more international tourneys this year
 
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