A vote expected in the coming weeks could ease the scheduling demand for the WTA Tour’s top players.
WTA Tour Architecture Council member Bob Moran told Front Office Sports on Monday that the number of required WTA 500-level tournaments will be reduced as early as next year.
Moran said he expects the vote to happen during the U.S. Open, which begins later this month.
“When we came out with circuit structure a couple of years ago, it was trying to get players to play more 1000s and 500s,” Moran said.
“They have to play 1000s, but more of the 500s, and rules were put into place to do that. And one of the things was they have to play six 500s. We heard from the players that that has been difficult. I’m very confident that at the U.S. Open, you’ll see that number come down.”
He said the number of required 500 events would drop to “probably five or four.” The total number of required events would be reduced to between 15 and 17, which includes the four Grand Slam tournaments and seven 1000-level tournaments.
Established in February to address the scheduling issues, the 13-member Tour Architecture Council is chaired by U.S. star Jessica Pegula and includes fellow players Maria Sakkari, Victoria Azarenka and Katie Volynets.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus called the current crowded competition schedule “insane” back in January. In February, Sabalenka and Poland’s Iga Swiatek and other top players dropped out of the 1000-level Dubai Open.
–Field Level Media
