The obvious move up from 15ks is to 25k qualis. But there is no pathway to do so. with just an ITF ranking. They should have several ITF reserved places for each 25k. At present, an ITF ranking from 1-30ish gets you into 25k MD every week, but a ranking from 30-2000 is very little use.
There are severe absurdities now in the 15k seedings. An ITF 25k record of P3,W0,L3 trumps an ITF 15k record of P100, W100, L0.
The USTA hardly hosts any 15ks, so has very few players with an ITF ranking. For players ranked ITF 30-100, if they want to play 25k MD, the best idea is to head for the States.
There's 10 women's 15k events in the USA between May and October - I wish we hosted hardly any as well.
Hardly surprising many of the girls ranked 300-600 who spent the year only playing 25ks (and early on often not making the cut) are a bit miffed about finding themselves dropping 30-100 spots when 15ks suddenly re-count.
Those 15k girls were getting slots in 25k main draws and now are getting to leapfrog up the rankings as "reward" for playing down.
This whole thing has been such a mess. I've no problem with 15ks returning to main WTA points, but would have been fairer to start that from January and give a longer lead in for players to rejig scheduling
Hardly surprising many of the girls ranked 300-600 who spent the year only playing 25ks (and early on often not making the cut) are a bit miffed about finding themselves dropping 30-100 spots when 15ks suddenly re-count.
Those 15k girls were getting slots in 25k main draws and now are getting to leapfrog up the rankings as "reward" for playing down.
This whole thing has been such a mess. I've no problem with 15ks returning to main WTA points, but would have been fairer to start that from January and give a longer lead in for players to rejig scheduling
I see the argument.
But, generally, if something is such a mess, I feel the best way is just to get shot of it asap.
It will be painful for some, for a short while, until it's all worked it's way through.
But probably better than prolonging the agony and drawing it out.
Yes, as previously discussed, I'm with CD in that I think retrospectively adding back in 15K points on their new scale from August is probably the lesser of two evils compared with delaying it.
But Paul is clearly right about some players who have tried to 'play up' to 25Ks losing out such as, as he points out in the Torino 25K thread, Soumeya Anane in doubles.