WTA: Exchange of places between Singapore and Zhuhai?

Changes in the schedule of the WTA Tour are looming. Association leader Steve Simon is playing with the idea that the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai and the WTA Finals in Singapore will change places.

Immediately after Julia Görges’ triumph at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai against CoCo Vandeweghe, there is news of the tournament’s start. WTA CEO Steve Simon has a plan that includes an exchange of dates for the tournament in Zhuhai and the WTA finals in Singapore. The unofficial women’s tennis world championship in Singapore has been taking place for years now, one week before the B World Championships in Zhuhai. This situation is expected to change by 2019 at the latest.

“It will not happen in 2018, but it is my goal that the WTA Finals will finish the year. I think this should change for a long time,”Simon told reporters during the Elite Trophy.

In addition, the WTA CEO is also concerned about the low number of spectators at the B World Cup. In the stadium the week remained empty for many places. Simon wants to change this situation:”It’s kind of unfair that such big events with great hospitality and great conditions don’t attract fans. Where are they? We have to work on that,”Simon continued.

The fact that the WTA will eventually cancel the tournament in Zhuhai from the calendar is out of the question for the WTA boss:”Such a thing can hurt people. You have to respect the work and investment of the players and work to make the event work,”says Simon.

New courts would already be built, schools would talk about tennis and a complete package would be arranged, Simon explained.

In contrast to the B-WM in Zhuhai, the WTA Fianls in Singapore were well attended. Caroline Wozniacki’s triumph in the tournament of the season’s top eight players was well received by fans, the media and the general tenor of the tennis circuit.