Changing the face of tennis
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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Li Na's French Open triumph is great for women's tennis and follows a push to develop the sport in China which officials now want to replicate in India, WTA tour chief executive Stacey Allaster said.
Li became the first player from an Asian nation to win a grand slam singles title when she beat last year's winner Francesca Schiavone on Saturday. She was previously runner-up at the Australian Open final in January.
"It's incredibly special and exciting, I'm thrilled for her. It's great for the sport overall," Allaster said.
"She is a great ambassador, great athlete, great personality, a national hero in China already and the Western world is beginning to get to know her and enjoy her as she has great talent on the court and is good fun off the court."
Li, at 29 relatively old for her first grand slam title, has been cracking jokes throughout the past two weeks at the clay court grand slam but she was deadly serious on court with her powerful forehand and huge willpower carrying her through.
The women's tour hopes more Chinese will take up the game following Li's breakthrough.
"Having the WTA office in Beijing is incredibly important, we are planting the seeds, we've got a good foundation, good athletes, a great athlete development system with the Chinese Tennis Association," Allaster added.
"We now have one of our top four events in China, the Beijing Open which is important so we have that celebration. These past couple of weeks we've had our Chinese tennis festivals, we are out in the market putting racquets in people's hands because we've got to educate this market."
Another market full of opportunity for tennis is India.
"We probably have a third of events in North America, a third in Europe, a third in Asia-Pacific. We've got a good balance, we'd like more in South America, more in India," she said.
Li's win and the fact the top three seeds in Paris went out early has led to criticism of the standard of women's tennis in the absence of the injured Williams sisters and the retirement of Justine Henin.
Allaster said the open nature of the women's game made it attractive even if there are no big rivalries like in the men's. "The standard is much higher. On any given day anyone in the top 40 can win, we don't have these 40-minute 6-0 and 6-0 first round matches any more. They are much more competitive, there is much more parity," she said.
She said the return to form of French Open semi-finalist Maria Sharapova was important for the brand while she also wished the Williams duo a speedy recovery in time for the United States Open.
"The depth we have in the game right now, we are monetizing it and the business is growing," she said. "Maria's back, she's playing well, she's hungry. Any time we can have Venus or Serena on the court it's fantastic for fans. It would be fantastic to have them as part of the mix, as part of the story. They are being very prudent with their bodies. Hopefully we will see them very soon."
Without the sisters, tennis is fighting for airplay in the US with American men also not threatening in big events.
"Our events in North America continue to be successful, they are growing. The USTA is laser-focused on its quick start program for under 10s and they know they've got to get more kids in the pipeline," she said.
Another bone of contention is the complicated rankings system which has led to Caroline Wozniacki being world No. 1 despite never having won a grand slam title.
Men's No. 1 Rafa Nadal recently demanded a new rankings approach but Allaster is not totally convinced.
"Rankings have a long history and prompt lots of debate. The system we have is the best one that many great minds have been able to draft," she said. "On balance, it always recalibrates. It is not too often that you have the anomaly where you have a world No. 1 who has not won a grand slam."
Li became the first player from an Asian nation to win a grand slam singles title when she beat last year's winner Francesca Schiavone on Saturday. She was previously runner-up at the Australian Open final in January.
"It's incredibly special and exciting, I'm thrilled for her. It's great for the sport overall," Allaster said.
"She is a great ambassador, great athlete, great personality, a national hero in China already and the Western world is beginning to get to know her and enjoy her as she has great talent on the court and is good fun off the court."
Li, at 29 relatively old for her first grand slam title, has been cracking jokes throughout the past two weeks at the clay court grand slam but she was deadly serious on court with her powerful forehand and huge willpower carrying her through.
The women's tour hopes more Chinese will take up the game following Li's breakthrough.
"Having the WTA office in Beijing is incredibly important, we are planting the seeds, we've got a good foundation, good athletes, a great athlete development system with the Chinese Tennis Association," Allaster added.
"We now have one of our top four events in China, the Beijing Open which is important so we have that celebration. These past couple of weeks we've had our Chinese tennis festivals, we are out in the market putting racquets in people's hands because we've got to educate this market."
Another market full of opportunity for tennis is India.
"We probably have a third of events in North America, a third in Europe, a third in Asia-Pacific. We've got a good balance, we'd like more in South America, more in India," she said.
Li's win and the fact the top three seeds in Paris went out early has led to criticism of the standard of women's tennis in the absence of the injured Williams sisters and the retirement of Justine Henin.
Allaster said the open nature of the women's game made it attractive even if there are no big rivalries like in the men's. "The standard is much higher. On any given day anyone in the top 40 can win, we don't have these 40-minute 6-0 and 6-0 first round matches any more. They are much more competitive, there is much more parity," she said.
She said the return to form of French Open semi-finalist Maria Sharapova was important for the brand while she also wished the Williams duo a speedy recovery in time for the United States Open.
"The depth we have in the game right now, we are monetizing it and the business is growing," she said. "Maria's back, she's playing well, she's hungry. Any time we can have Venus or Serena on the court it's fantastic for fans. It would be fantastic to have them as part of the mix, as part of the story. They are being very prudent with their bodies. Hopefully we will see them very soon."
Without the sisters, tennis is fighting for airplay in the US with American men also not threatening in big events.
"Our events in North America continue to be successful, they are growing. The USTA is laser-focused on its quick start program for under 10s and they know they've got to get more kids in the pipeline," she said.
Another bone of contention is the complicated rankings system which has led to Caroline Wozniacki being world No. 1 despite never having won a grand slam title.
Men's No. 1 Rafa Nadal recently demanded a new rankings approach but Allaster is not totally convinced.
"Rankings have a long history and prompt lots of debate. The system we have is the best one that many great minds have been able to draft," she said. "On balance, it always recalibrates. It is not too often that you have the anomaly where you have a world No. 1 who has not won a grand slam."
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