WTA Tour - Safina warns of 2009 boycott

Eurosport - Sat, 11 Oct 21:39:00 2008

World number three Dinara Safina said that the top players could boycott next year's WTA Tour if their questions were left unanswered.

TENNIS 2008 Russia Dinara Safina - 0

The Russian said the players were unhappy with the changes to the schedule being made.

"If they (WTA) don't listen to what we have to say we might even choose to boycott the new tour," Safina said after losing 6-2 7-6 to compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the Kremlin Cup semi-finals.

"They said the leading players would have to play in designated tournaments while lower-ranked players would be able to enter any event they like. There's no logic in that at all.

"What if all the top players choose to enter the same tournament? What will the WTA do then? We want to know," added Safina.

Under the so-called Road Map 2010, 26 Tier One and Tier Two events will be combined into 20 Premiere tournaments with players committed to play in at least 10.

Four £2.6 million tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing will be mandatory for all players who qualify.

Below the mandatory events will be five £1.17 million stops in Canada, Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati and Tokyo, of which the top-ranked players must play at least four.

The WTA has committed to having at least seven of the world's top 10 players at each of these events. Players will complete their schedules by competing in at least one or two events worth over £400,00 each.

"There are a lot of grey areas," said Safina. "No one seems to understand which tournaments you can play and which you can't."

Her thoughts were echoed by Zvonareva and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I was told only two players from the top 10 could enter a smaller tournament like the Kremlin Cup next year," said world number seven Kuznetsova.

"What if (world number one) Jelena Jankovic and Serena or Venus (Williams) want to play here?

"Then all the top Russian players, and there are five of us in the top 10, will not be able to play in their home tournament. That's nonsense."

Safina, who will rise to a career-high number two when the new rankings are released on Monday, said the leading players will get together at next month's season-ending WTA Championships in Doha to share their concerns.

WTA officials were not available for comment.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. WILLIAMS SISTERS HAVE OVER $$505 MILLION IN THEIR­ POCKETS FROM OFF COURT INTERESTS

    THEY WILL PLAY ONLY­ WHEN * & WHERE THEY CHOOSE RANKINGS­ IRRELEVANT
    WHOLE RANKING SYSTEM IN CHAOS NEEDS TOTAL­ REVISION
    FOR GIVIING CURRENT FALSE READINGS

    From ana.tsiskaridze, on Tue 14 Oct 10:36AM

  2. Serena can always beat JJ! Venus loses to Pennetta and­ JJ in three sets but in a gRand Slam Venus beat JJ at­ last year's US! Both Venus and Serena can only beat­ themselves otherwise they have the best game ever!

    From Vic M, on Mon 13 Oct 6:46PM

  3. go on safina....
    safina is da best ....

    From maia, on Mon 13 Oct 5:25PM

  4. I hardly wait JJ to meet Williams sisters....they will­ NEVER beat her again!
    JJ R U L E S!

    From Laura, on Mon 13 Oct 5:14PM

  5. The Williams DO NOT NEED to play lotsa tournaments like­ Jankovic. Both Serena and Venus are superstars and­ multi grand slam champions! I hope they do not play­ Indian Wells and stick to their guns and play Miami.­ They wouldn't care about the ban cos they are the­ best and do not need to play week in week out!

    From Vic M, on Mon 13 Oct 1:54PM

  6. obviously darling Dinara Safina has discussed this with­ her other players
    she is the commendable spokeswoman ­ e well done

    From ssharifahh, on Mon 13 Oct 10:52AM

  7. Point taken. But it would have been desirable for­ Safina to voice the view collectively with other­ players or let some other senior players do that.­ After all she is still a fledgling.

    From Emmveeyem, on Sun 12 Oct 7:04PM

  8. THE WTA TOUR ARE CHANGING SO MANY THINGS FOR 2009 AND I­ THINK IT IS A MISTAKE. SOME OF THE YOUNGER PLAYERS­ WON'T PUT UP WITH IT OR WON'T BE ABLE TO­ COMPETE TO A GOOD LEVEL AS THEY ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH­ TO PLAY WEEK IN WEEK OUT.THE OLDER PLAYERS SUCH AS THE­ WILLIAMS SISTERS WON'T CARE WHEATHER THEY ARE­ BANNED FROM NEXT 2 TOURNAMENTS OR NOT IF THEY DON'T­ PLAY INDIAN WELLS.
    ALL THE PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO DO­ TO MUCH ON THE WTA TOUR LARRY SCOTT SHOULD THINK AGAIN­ WHAT HE IS DOING.WHO IS ON THE PLAYER COUNCIL THEY­ SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO ALL THESE SILLY NEW RULES. COME­ ON LADIES STAND UP FOR YOU'RE RIGHTS.
    ALISON­ MERRITT.

    From AJ, on Sun 12 Oct 4:51PM

  9. Jelena please let other win something ! don`t be so­ cruel ;-)
    kidding !

    From Igor K, on Sun 12 Oct 2:49PM

  10. Did Jelena win again ?
    no way, it`s imposible !! !
    ooo­ yes she did :-)
    :-)
    Oooo what a beautifull day again­ :-)

    From Igor K, on Sun 12 Oct 2:38PM

  11. They are shortening the tour but also tryin to make it­ stil have a high number of top players,(understandable)­ yet they are not listening to the concerns of the­ players, the williams play no more than 15 tournaments­ if your lucky, and now they are being told they have to­ turn up at indian wells a tournament they have­ boycotted since 02 for discriminatory reasons is utter­ nonsense. Leave it as it is, those hu love playin 30­ tournaments lik jankovic shud do as such,

    From P B, on Sun 12 Oct 2:19PM

  12. WHO LOSES HAS A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY

    From zarkomiskovic, on Sun 12 Oct 12:15PM

  13. Leave the tour as it is!!! it's great the way it­ is!!1 why change if it's so exciting and nice to­ watch!!!! Leave the system as it is WTA tour­ officials!!!!

    From hguy23, on Sun 12 Oct 10:40AM

  14. best wishes to beauty queen adorable sensible DINARA­ Safina to be successfull

    From simioni44, on Sun 12 Oct 8:01AM

  15. Stop whining or let others play....

    From myenglishcorner, on Sun 12 Oct 7:12AM

  16. with all the millions euros poured into tennis
    All­ players must be allowed to compete in each & every­ event of their choice

    WELL SAID DEAR DINA SAFINA­ & friends

    From ssussannah, on Sun 12 Oct 6:57AM

  17. you all just go and fight for your rights, all of the­ true tennis fans are with you!

    From xence, on Sun 12 Oct 1:25AM

  18. THAT DOES NOT SOUND QUITE ACCURATE DEAR ANDY

    From llorretta22, on Sat 11 Oct 11:10PM

  19. Their points are very valid, but to boycott the WTA­ Tour would be going too far, as the players need the­ ranking-points and high-level match-play to play the­ Majors.

    From Andrew Broad, on Sat 11 Oct 10:39PM
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