The top players could boycott next year's WTA Tour if their questions were left unanswered, world no. 3 Dinara Safina said on Saturday.The Russian said the players were unhappy with the changes being made to the schedule."If they (WTA) don't listen to what we have to say we might even choose to boycott the new tour," Safina told reporters.
"They said the leading players would have to play in designated tournaments while lower-ranked players would be able to enter any event they like. There's no logic in that at all.
"What if all the top players choose to enter the same tournament? What will the WTA do then? We want to know," added Safina.
Under the so-called Road Map 2010, 26 Tier One and Tier Two events will be combined into 20 Premiere tournaments with players committed to play in at least 10.Four $4.5 million tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing will be mandatory for all players who qualify.Below the mandatory events will be five $2 million stops in Canada, Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati and Tokyo, of which the top-ranked players must play at least four.The WTA has committed to having at least seven of the world's top 10 players at each of these events. Players will complete their schedules by competing in at least one or two $700,000 events."There are a lot of grey areas," said Safina.
"No one seems to understand which tournaments you can play and which you can't."
Her thoughts were echoed by Zvonareva and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova."I was told only two players from the top 10 could enter a smaller tournament like the Kremlin Cup next year," said world no. 7 Kuznetsova.
"What if (world no. 1) Jelena Jankovic and Serena or Venus (Williams) want to play here?"
"Then all the top Russian players, and there are five of us in the top 10, will not be able to play in their home tournament. That's nonsense."
Safina, who will rise to a career-high number two when the new rankings are released on Monday, said the leading players will get together at next month's season-ending WTA Championships in Doha to share their concerns.WTA officials were not available for comment.(Via Reuters UK, Image by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
A view of one of the courts at the Melbourne Park complex in Melbourne.
It was revealed in The Age's front page report on how Sydney as well as Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were manoeuvring to host the first grand slam event of the year when the current contract expires in 2016. "I don't understand why Tennis Australia would be having any discussions with another government or another city about the tournament," Mr McNamee, a former Australian Open director, told The Sunday Age.
"That's what's such a shock. What would be the reason for that because we have a venue that is the envy of the tennis world. "It would be akin to Wimbledon having discussions with Edinburgh. Why would you do that?"
Tennis Australia has admitted holding talks with Events NSW and others about a possible future venue for the tournament.
Events NSW says the discussions are at an early stage but there are plans to build a multimillion-dollar tennis stadium at Glebe Island, near Darling Harbour.
Despite the move, Victorian Premier John Brumby said yesterday he was confident the Open would stay in Melbourne. "It's a great stadium, the players love Melbourne, we've got the best sports precinct in the world and I don't think we need to take too seriously the threats that are coming from Sydney," he said, adding the Government would work with Tennis Australia to improve the Open in coming years.
Mr McNamee said it was hard to imagine the Open not being played in Melbourne. "It's part of the DNA of Melbourne, like the Opera House is part of the DNA of Sydney.
"The Australian Open is part of who we are in Melbourne. The juxtaposition of the Australian Open and Melbourne is sacrosanct."
Grand slam legend Margaret Court, who won 11 Australian Opens during her career, said the tournament was held in Melbourne because "it was the sporting city of the world". "Melbourne is known for the Australian Open just like New York is known for the US Open and Paris for the French Open," Ms Court said.
She said Melbourne was renowned for having the best atmosphere as well as the best crowds. "(In) Sydney … you never know if people are going to turn up to watch," she said.
(Via theage.com.au, Image via Yahoo! Sport)
Islas Malvinas Stadium in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
And today, it is confirmed that the final between Argentina and Spain will be held at the Islas Malvinas Stadium in Mar del Plata.“This was one of the most challenging decisions we have made during my more than a decade-long tenure on the Davis Cup Committee,” said Juan Margets, chairman of the International Tennis Federation panel.
The Argentine team hoped to play on a fast indoor court in Cordoba to bolster the strengths of David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro.
Both venues don’t meet the ITF’s requirement of 12,000 seats.
Margets said it was more feasible to increase the seating in Mar del Plata’s venue.
The Davis Cup final will be held in Nov. 21-23.
(Via AP, Image by AP Photo/Vicente Robles)
The top players could boycott next year's WTA Tour if their questions were left unanswered, world no. 3 Dinara Safina said on Saturday.
