HomeSportsTennis’ top women say the sport is broken. This is why

Tennis’ top women say the sport is broken. This is why

For years, top tennis players like Tatjana Maria, CoCo Vandeweghe, and Danielle Collins have faced challenges and sacrifices in their pursuit of professional success. Maria has endured cramped hotel rooms while traveling with her family, Vandeweghe played with a broken foot to avoid fines, and Collins spent money she wasn’t sure she would earn back to cover coaching expenses. But now, these players and others are fed up with the way they have been treated by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), feeling like they are just hired help rather than the star attractions of the sport. In a recent showdown at the WTA Tour Finals in Cancun, Mexico, tensions between players and tour leaders reached a boiling point over issues such as unsafe playing conditions and lack of response to player requests for improvements. This battle represents a larger fight for respect, equality, and meaningful change within the sport. The players have submitted a list of requests covering areas such as compensation, the tennis calendar, tournament operations, and maternity coverage. They are seeking greater flexibility in the schedule, lower fines for skipping events, and better treatment of injured and pregnant players. They also want a shift in the pay structure to provide guaranteed compensation for the top 250 players and a voice in decision-making processes. The players argue that misogyny, a softer market, lack of exposure, and incompetence have contributed to the current inequities. It remains to be seen whether the tour leaders can address these concerns and implement the necessary changes to maintain the viability of the WTA Tour. Overall, this conflict highlights the players’ desire for fair treatment, transparency, and a greater sense of agency within the sport.