WTA Releases “Roadmap Report” Showing Positives For Sport

Written by: Staff on 16th June 2011

WTA Releases "Roadmap Report" Showing Positives For Sport

Venus Williams of the US talks to her trainer before retiring from her third round match against Germay's Andrea Petkovic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 Jannuary 2011. EPA/Dan Peled AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Despite injuries to prominent players such as Serena and Venus Williams, a study released today by the WTA shows that player withdrawals for 2011 to date are down by 35% and top player participation rates are up by 39%.

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.

“Even though several top ranked players missed tournaments this year due to injuries, the number of top players participating in tournaments worldwide is way up this year compared to the way it used to be,” said Stacey Allaster, the CEO of the WTA. “The Roadmap is doing its job. Withdrawals are down; top player participation is up; prize money is up and so is attendance. Our game is doing quite well.”

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. Today the WTA releases its fifth quarterly summary of key statistics comparing the last year under the old circuit (2008) with how the game is being played today.

The analysis shows that compared to the circuit from January – June, 2008 with the period from January – June 2011:

Despite some injuries to top players, overall withdrawals are down 35%
Top Player participation is up 39% in the Tour’s top nine Premier events
Prize money is up by 36% at WTA events
Retirements and Walkovers combined are down 24%

In addition, the WTA over the past 15 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; and securing of additional year-end WTA Championships revenues. Additionally WTA attendance in 2010 was up 5% at Premier events and 4% at International events, and only a single tournament lost a title sponsor, while more players than ever before (19) earned over US$1 million.