In a candid evaluation of the current turmoil in ladies’s tennis, Martina Navratilova voiced her doubts about the way forward for Steve Simon as the pinnacle of the WTA following the chaotic Tour Finals.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion additionally underscores the necessity for feminine management within the elite skilled circuit.
Simon has held the place of chairperson and chief govt of the WTA for eight years.
However, his management has just lately confronted mounting criticism from gamers, notably as a result of controversial resolution to stage the Finals open air in Cancun, Mexico.
Navratilova, a trailblazing determine in ladies’s tennis, shared her perspective with broadcaster Amazon Prime.
She expressed her perception that it is likely to be time for brand spanking new management throughout the WTA, given the present challenges.
With the WTA being a ladies’s affiliation, she burdened the significance of getting a lady on the helm.
Navratilova highlighted that solely two ladies have held this management position within the historical past of the group, and she or he hopes the subsequent chief will likely be a lady, given the abundance of certified candidates.
Addressing the contentious selection of Cancun because the venue for the $9 million WTA Finals, Navratilova referenced the dissatisfaction expressed by gamers, significantly world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka criticized the court docket circumstances and the group’s commonplace, feeling “disrespected” by the occasion’s administration.
The event, scheduled to conclude on Nov. 5, was stricken by rain and excessive winds, resulting in the semifinal between Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka being postponed till that day, with the ultimate rescheduled for Monday.
Navratilova acknowledged the resilience of the gamers in adapting to the difficult circumstances however emphasised the necessity for accountability.
She identified the sequence of poor choices that finally led to the predicament and recommended that Steve Simon, who has held the place for eight years, could discover it more and more troublesome to keep up his position.
In a letter addressed to the gamers, which was later leaked to the media, Simon defined that the number of Cancun because the event’s location was influenced by varied complicated components.
He additionally accepted accountability for the subpar circumstances and indicated forthcoming adjustments to boost the tour’s operation, addressing considerations raised by high gamers about their remedy.
The WTA, in response, said that it stays dedicated to listening to gamers’ suggestions because it navigates the trail ahead.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
