WTA Tour Championships switches to round robin format
February 4, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - There will be more money and fewer players at this year's WTA Tour Championships.
The WTA Tour on Tuesday announced that the season-ending event will offer a record top prize of $1 million and change from a 16-player single-elimination tournament to an eight-player round robin.
Last year's first prize was $765,000. The top check in WTA Tour history had been the $900,000 earned by Serena Williams at the 2002 U.S. Open.
"It's a pretty awesome amount," Jennifer Capriati said. "It just shows how strong women's tennis is and how it just keeps getting better."
Only eight players - those at the top of the WTA Tour point standings at season's end - will vie for the $1 million prize. They will be divided into two groups of four players, with each playing the other three in her group.
The two competitors from each group with the best record will advance to a single-elimination semifinal round, and the winners will face each other in the final.
The system is identical to the one used by the ATP Tour for its season-ending tournament.
"I think the format is good for a few reasons," Capriati said. "Even if you lose a really tight, tough match, you'll be able to stay in the tournament with this format. It should be better for the fans, too, with seeing some of the top players in more matches."
The doubles draw will go from eight teams to four - those atop the point standings - in a single-elimination format.
Smart move by the WTA to make for exciting tennis like last year's ATP Season-Ending Championships. The men are setting a good example.
February 4, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - There will be more money and fewer players at this year's WTA Tour Championships.
The WTA Tour on Tuesday announced that the season-ending event will offer a record top prize of $1 million and change from a 16-player single-elimination tournament to an eight-player round robin.
Last year's first prize was $765,000. The top check in WTA Tour history had been the $900,000 earned by Serena Williams at the 2002 U.S. Open.
"It's a pretty awesome amount," Jennifer Capriati said. "It just shows how strong women's tennis is and how it just keeps getting better."
Only eight players - those at the top of the WTA Tour point standings at season's end - will vie for the $1 million prize. They will be divided into two groups of four players, with each playing the other three in her group.
The two competitors from each group with the best record will advance to a single-elimination semifinal round, and the winners will face each other in the final.
The system is identical to the one used by the ATP Tour for its season-ending tournament.
"I think the format is good for a few reasons," Capriati said. "Even if you lose a really tight, tough match, you'll be able to stay in the tournament with this format. It should be better for the fans, too, with seeing some of the top players in more matches."
The doubles draw will go from eight teams to four - those atop the point standings - in a single-elimination format.
Smart move by the WTA to make for exciting tennis like last year's ATP Season-Ending Championships. The men are setting a good example.