WTA Inaugurates Major Move Despite Rebuttal From Ashleigh Barty’s Coach

One of the biggest decisions taken by the women’s tour this year was to move the location of WTA Finals from Shenzhen to Guadalajara. Top players like Ashleigh Barty and Aryna Sabalenka have automatically qualified for the finals to be held for the first time in Mexico.

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Ashleigh Barty might not play the WTA Finals at Guadalajara after coach’s disappointment over the move

Initially, when the WTA announced its decision to move the finals to Mexico, Ashleigh Barty’s current coach Craig Tyzzer expressed huge disappointment over the move.

“We just realized that it is in Mexico, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, and that they use pressure-free balls there. It is a ball which, if you use it under normal conditions, does not bounce. It is not the best advertisement for the best players in the world to play in conditions they have never experienced before”. 

These were the comments made by Tyzzer when they first got to know about WTA’s plan. Barring him, there weren’t any open comments from other players’ entourage.

Even though the finals are still a long way to go, it’s a matter of concern for a top player like Barty as she will have to quarantine herself before the Australian summer season begins.

WTA starts off preparations for the marquee event in the city of Guadalajara

Today, WTA made the announcement public as they teamed up with authorities at Guadalajara and talked about the venue and further details related to the year-end event.

Tournament director Gustavo Santoscoy said, “The spectacle that will be seen on the court is higher when it comes to the best players in the world”. 

Tennis talent management agency, the Octagon group, in association with the WTA, came up with the idea of bringing the finals to the city of Guadalajara.

“We saw the possibility that something bigger would happen in Guadalajara”, Santoscoy continued.

The WTA representative, who was present at the venue, thanked the authorities of Guadalajara and others for their support to the event. Also, the WTA finals were held in ten different cities since 1972 with Mexico getting its first chance.

In the end, Juan Jose Frangie, who is a businessman and the candidate in running for the city council of Zapopan, expressed his appreciation to the WTA for bringing such a big event to their municipality.

“We are very happy to receive events that have a global impact. I want to thank the WTA for bringing their finals to this municipality”. 

As a result of this shift in venue, one can expect a few withdrawals from top players which will make the WTA race to Guadalajara even more interesting in the coming few months.

Also read: “Just Ridiculous”: Ashleigh Barty’s Coach Against WTA Finals Venue