Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Board Announces 2008 and 2009 Changes
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jun 29, 2007 | Print
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The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Board of Directors announced today additional plans for the 2008 and 2009 schedule, along with changes to doubles and on-court coaching next season.
While I laud many of the changes that the Tour continues to make to promote tennis, the continued testing of on-court coaching ranks as one of the worst decisions the Tour has made in recent years.
Here is a look at the announcements:
“2009 provisional Roadmap Calendar to feature 56 tournaments in 32 countries, longer off-season and record prize money of $77 million.”
Obviously, with the 2009 season over a year away, the final details to the Roadmap calendar are still being worked out. What we do know so far is that the Tour calendar will be more globalized with more events in Asia and Europe, the reduced schedule will feature four “Crown Jewel” tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Beijing, and Madrid, and the off-season will be extended. If you want to check out more information on the Roadmap, I wrote a more extensive look at the changes after the Board of Directors meeting in Miami here.
“2008 Calendar to feature 60 tournaments in 34 countries, Olympic Tennis Event in Beijing and record prize money of $67 million.”
No big surprises here as prize money has been steadily increasing over the years.
“Doubles enhancement plan including increased marketing, no-ad scoring and super tiebreak conforming to ATP format, as well as continuation testing of on-court coaching.”
Because I don’t cover doubles much, I don’t have an educated opinion on the doubles changes, apart from the fact that I’ve read a lot of comments from doubles players who are not too happy with the changes. The no-ad scoring continues to confuse fans, so I only hope that the WTA Tour makes an organized effort to help educate fans about the new format, because after all, if the fans can’t understand what’s going on, why would they want to watch and support it?
Now for my favorite subject - on-court coaching. I’m written about this many times in the past, so I’ll spare my regular readers, but if you want to read more about it, see here, here, and here.
The official sound-byte:
The Tour Board also voted to continue testing of on-court coaching at all Tier I and Tier II tournaments in 2007, including at the Sony Ericsson Championships, and with a final decision as to the future of on-court coaching expected to be made at the Tour’s year-end Board meetings in Madrid. On-court coaching is designed to enhance the entertainment value of the sport to television viewers by adding a new actor and additional strategy to the game.
I just love this part: “On-court coaching is designed to enhance the entertainment value of the sport to television viewers by adding a new actor.”
Are we talking about tennis or a reality TV show?
“In $42 million deal, Doha to host season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships from 2008-2010, offering equal prize money of $4.45 million and largest guaranteed women’s singles winner payout at $1,485,000 million.”
The oil barons in Doha struck it rich with this news. Maybe Nexty can weigh in with an opinion on this one - can Qatar really turn a profit by dishing out $42 million dollars for the event? The Staples Center, where the Championships were held in Los Angeles, struggled to fill the seats and make the financial ends meet.
I know Doha is filled with people who have more money that they know what to do with, but shouldn’t the Championships be in a more fan-friendly and accessible location? At least in Los Angeles the average Joe would have been able to score a ticket. I’m not saying that the tournament should be held in the United States, because I do believe in global diversity, but Qatar and Turkey? At least pick a country that caters more to middle-class tourism.
“Istanbul to host 2011-2013 Sony Ericsson Championships and to offer equal prize money.”
See above about fan accessibility.
You can read more about the Tour’s changes here.
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Nexty | Jun 30, 2007 | Reply
Well.., I liked this article!
What i got to say:
1-For the doubles: it’s really hard to have an opinion about that, you’re right, especially since men tennis players haven’t complained massivly about it. I would say I’m okay for the super tie break in the third set but the no ad-scoring really hurts me! It’s like tennis matches are getting limited. A game won’t last very long as after 7 points it’s already done!
2-The coaching: Yeah i liked that reality TV show lol. What we can blame now is the fact that the WTA and the ATP want more people to come to tennis which is not to the advantage of the people who have been following tennis for years and especially players!!
3-About Doha hosting the Championships: First Qatar relys more on gas :p lol… To answer your question those 46 million will definitly not be a problem for them! Comparing to all the stuff being built there (because i’m on holidays and not there right now :p) 46 million is ”nothing”…
I can say I’m really happy about this decision because it will allow me to attend the championships at least once in my life! After 2008, I will no longer be living there but my parents may… So maybe i would go for holidays then.
Still I understand you frustration… and i’m sorry for the people who won’t be able to attend the YEC during 3 to 6 years… But you’ve got to understand that the people living in the region are as enthousiastic as the spanish when they knew that it would be played in Madrid… And from all the cities who were held to organise, I guess the best one to choose was Istanbul.
Aaress | Jun 30, 2007 | Reply
Nexty, thanks for your comments!
One of the reasons with the no-ad scoring was to add a more “dramatic” finish to a match - and unfortunately to make it more predictable.
I hope you do get to go to the Championships - we’d love to hear any first-hand match reports!
I see your point about the interest in tennis in Qatar. So often it is easy to forget that the interest in tennis spreads beyond Russia, Europe, China, and the USA.
Thanks again for your insights!
Nexty | Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
You’re welcome