The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has confirmed that they are looking into the possibility of extending this year’s calendar due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
There have been no tournaments played on the tour since the last week of February. The suspension is currently scheduled to end on June 8th, however, it is looking likely that it will be extended in the coming weeks. The Wimbledon Championships is expected to be officially cancelled on Wednesday for the first time since 1945. Effectively ending hopes of there being a grass-court swing this year.
Due to the halt, many lower ranked players have been left in a tough financial situation with them being unable to earn any money. World No.371 Sofia Shapatava recently set up an online petition on change.org calling for support from the ITF, WTA and ATP. More than 1300 people have signed the petition.
“The WTA is diligently working with our tournaments to maximize earning possibilities when the professional tennis circuit is able to resume and is considering an extension to the current 44-week season to enable more tournaments to take place,” the WTA said in a statement issued to Reuters News Agency.
“It is our sincere hope to return to the court as soon as possible – when the health and safety or our players, fans and staffs can be guaranteed, we will be back competing.”
At present the 2020 WTA season is set to end during the first week of November with the prestigious end-of-season finals being played in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Where there is $14 million in prize money available. Any extension to the tour will give players less time to prepare during the off-season ahead of the following year which always begins during the first week of January.
Regardless of what may happen, the WTA has admitted that they will not be able to financially support every player in a way they would have hoped. Explaining they can only reimburse players for how they perform on the court.
“We wish there was a way everyone, especially those in need the most, could be compensated at the level they were expecting, but the needs are so great and the WTA unfortunately is not in a financial position to do that,” the WTA said.
“Professional tennis players are independent contractors and not employees of the WTA. As a result, a player’s compensation is based on on-court competition and when tournaments are not held this puts a pause on their principal revenue flow.
“The WTA fully recognises the challenges these athletes are facing as well as those similar challenges being dealt with from millions of people around the world during this unprecedented situation.”
So far in 2020, four players on the WTA Tour have managed to earn more than $1 million in prize money. They are Sofia Kenin, Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep and Ash Barty. Overall, a total of 90 female players has won more than $100,000.
Disparity in prize money earnings in 2020 (as of March 9th)
1 – Sofia Kenin USA $3,012,043
50 – Marketa Vondrousova CZE – $139,164
100 – Harriet Dart GBR – $92,505
150 – Oceane Dodin FRA – $47,411
200 Kurumi Nara JPA – $28,469
250 – Oksana Kalashnikova GEO – $18,216
300 – Talaba Gabriela ROM – $8,240
Note: players are ranked based on 2020 earnings only
