WTA Issues Quarterly Report

Written by: Staff on 18th October 2012

WTA Issues Quarterly Report

epa03424580 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their final match at the China Open in Beijing, China, 07 October 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

Public perception and a comparison with the global interest currently generated by men’s tennis may suggest otherwise but those who run women’s tennis insist their sport has never been in better shape as the season ending finale, the WTA Championships in Istanbul are now just days away.

The WTA has published its tenth Roadmap Report, a statistical analysis that studies the health of the sport compared to those days before former chief executive Larry Scott and his Board of Directors instigated the Roadmap circuit reform, which at the time was described as the most sweeping ever changes in professional women’s tennis with the main aims being shorter season, a fan-friendly structure and a projected 40% increase in prize money.

In addition the WTA is proud to announce US$160 million raised in sponsorship, television and WTA Championships revenues, over the last two years

A total of 15 players have surpassed the US$1 million prize money mark to date in 2012, with three players having reached the US$5 million mark for the first time in WTA history. World no.1 Victoria Azarenka) has surpassed the US$7 million mark and is projected to exceed US$8 million, a new single season prize money record.

The quarterly Roadmap report was released by Andrew Walker, the WTA’s Chief Marketing Officer. No comment was available from Stacey Allaster , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the WTA but she is expected to discuss the subject at length during her annual address at the conclusion of the WTA Championships.

According to latest figures released by the WTA, and using a comparison with a nine month period four years ago, a shorter calendar and therefore less physical demand on the stars means top player participation is up 34% in the WTA’s top nine Premier events, withdrawals are down overall 7% and prize money has risen by 51%.

From January to October in 2008 the overall prize money on offer was $35.2 million, in the same period this year the figure had risen to $53.2 million.

However not everything is healthy and several other statistics give cause for concern. The number of retirements has dramatically increased, from 55 in 2008 to 74 this year, showing a 36% increase.

The number of walkovers increased only marginally from 14% to 15%. And the number of medical timeouts also showed a fractional increase from 160 to 162. With fewer events on the calendar, the number of job opportunities has actually fallen from 4,534 to 4,494.

Topics: Istanbul tennis news, Wta, Wta Championships