Today the WTA releases its seventh quarterly summary of key statistics comparing the last year under the old circuit (2008) with how the game is being played today. The study, called the “Roadmap Report”, is a quarterly analysis of players participation rates and withdrawal rates that compare the state of the game today to the way it was prior to the Roadmap.
The analysis shows that compared to the circuit from January – October, 2008 with the period from January – October 2011:
- Top Player participation is up 24% in the Tour’s top nine Premier events
- Despite some injuries to top players – notably long-term non-tennis related injuries to Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters – overall withdrawals are down 18%
- Prize money is up by 36% at WTA events
Three years ago, the calendar for women’s tennis was substantially changed in response to concerns from players that the season was too long and grueling. Far too many players were withdrawing from tournaments due to injury and fatigue. Fans didn’t know if players would show up and the WTA had a problem.
As a result, the WTA’s players and tournaments created the Roadmap – the most sweeping changes ever to the women’s tennis circuit.
The Roadmap shortened and streamlined the season; increased prize money and bonus pool payouts; provided more breaks for top players; and reduced top player tournament commitments - all with the goal that our players would be healthier and as a result increasingly show up for the tournaments they committed to.
In addition to the positive Roadmap results, the WTA over the past 18 months has secured US$80 million in revenues, through the renewals of Sony Ericsson, USANA and Travelex; the signing of major new sponsors in Europe (Oriflame) and Asia-Pacific (Peak and Jetstar); the signing of BNP Paribas and its Turkish partner TEB as co-title sponsors of the WTA’s year-end Championships in Istanbul; the signing of Rolex as a sponsor of the WTA Championships; and securing of additional year-end WTA Championships revenues. Additionally WTA attendance in 2011 at Premier events is up by 12% from 2010 and television viewership is up by 73% from 2010 to 2011. Only a single tournament has lost a title sponsor, and more players than ever before are on track to earn over US$1 million.
