Tennis champions revolt over ‘very sad’ WTA Finals debacle

The best women’s tennis players in the world are playing off in the WTA Finals right now, but the tournament has been marred by controversy.

Marketa Vondrousova and Aryna Sabalenka have hit out. Photo: Getty Images

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has joined world number one Aryna Sabalenka in hitting out at the WTA and the state of the court at the season-ending Finals in Cancun.

Sabalenka on Sunday said she felt “disrespected” by the WTA, the governing body for women’s tennis, saying that the hastily built court in the Mexican resort was “not safe”.

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The Czech Republic’s Vondrousova agreed, writing on Instagram: “My first WTA Finals is not at all what I imagined.

“We work hard all year to get to the Finals and in the end it’s just a disappointment.” Vondrousova, who lost 7-6 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in her opening match on Monday, posted alongside the comments a clip of the ball failing to bounce properly on the court during a rally.

“Stadium is not at all ready for the matches and to me it feels like the people from WTA are absolutely not interested in how we – who are supposed to play on that court – feel,” wrote the 24-year-old.

“We do not feel that anyone listens to us and is interested in our opinion.

“Very sad.”

Vondrousova hit out. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

She’s following in Sabalenka’s footsteps. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Cancun was only confirmed as the host city of the prestigious championship on September 7 after Saudi Arabia had reportedly been lined up to stage the event.

That possibility sparked criticism from US legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert among others.

Instead, the tournament has returned to Mexico for the second time in three years, after Guadalajara hosted in 2021.

Sabalenka had trounced Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-1 in her opening match of the group-stage, but still unloaded on the WTA.

“I have to say that I am very disappointed with the WTA and the experience so far at the WTA Finals,” the 25-year-old from Belarus wrote on Instagram.

“As a player I feel disrespected by the WTA. I think most of us do. This is not the level of organisation we expect for the Finals.

“To be honest I don’t feel safe moving on this court a lot of the time.”

The biggest stars in women’s tennis are in Cancun. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Sabalenka claimed players were not allowed to practice on the court until the day before the opening.

“It’s just not acceptable to me with so much on the line and with so much at stake.”

Sabalenka said her criticism of the event was aimed at the WTA, not local organisers.

“I definitely want to show my appreciation for the local tournament organisers, everyone that built the court at the last minute, and everyone that’s working here at the event,” she wrote.

“I know it’s not their fault.”

Sabalenka was defeated 6-4 6-3 in her second match against Jessica Pegula.

The result means Pegula has booked her place in the WTA Finals semi-finals, while Sabalenka will play Elena Rybakina for the other spot from the Bacalar Group in the semi-finals.

Originally published as Tennis champions revolt over ‘very sad’ WTA Finals debacle