Week 8 - WTA1000 - Dubai Hard

Var · Satellite level

RE: Week 8 - WTA1000 - Dubai Hard

9vicman · Satellite level

I think WTA having a fresher look isn't the issue. It's having any sort of consistency to have the regular rivalries that fans like to follow. I know Keys has taken a break, but the Top 10 have really under performed in the Middle East.

indiana · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
I think WTA having a fresher look isn't the issue. It's having any sort of consistency to have the regular rivalries that fans like to follow. I know Keys has taken a break, but the Top 10 have really under performed in the Middle East.

I had actually thought we were getting there a bit more than for a while with Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff to the fore. But perhaps not really.

I absolutely agree we need rivalries among ccnsistently performing top players. Great depth pipe up some at times. No, for too long an inconsistent mess at the top of the women's game without narrative.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
9vicman wrote:
I think WTA having a fresher look isn't the issue. It's having any sort of consistency to have the regular rivalries that fans like to follow. I know Keys has taken a break, but the Top 10 have really under performed in the Middle East.
I had actually thought we were getting there a bit more than for a while with Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff to the fore. But perhaps not really.
I absolutely agree we need rivalries among ccnsistently performing top players. Great depth pipe up some at times. No, for too long an inconsistent mess at the top of the women's game without narrative.

narrative is the key to this - the fans want a story, the press want a story and that story aligned to a narrative is what promotes and grows the game.

A key part of that is, whatever we think of it, players from the big markets; USA for sure, China as well, and Western Europe. From the G7 nations (Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, US and, of course, UK. And , inevitably and eventually Russia, who will come back as a power at some point and into the G8). That is partly why Raducanu being a big star is important and would help if she can get it back again. Narrative aligned to market size and consistency of rivalries is the dream and that is largely missing.

Var · Satellite level

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
9vicman wrote:
I think WTA having a fresher look isn't the issue. It's having any sort of consistency to have the regular rivalries that fans like to follow. I know Keys has taken a break, but the Top 10 have really under performed in the Middle East.
I had actually thought we were getting there a bit more than for a while with Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff to the fore. But perhaps not really.
I absolutely agree we need rivalries among ccnsistently performing top players. Great depth pipe up some at times. No, for too long an inconsistent mess at the top of the women's game without narrative.
narrative is the key to this - the fans want a story, the press want a story and that story aligned to a narrative is what promotes and grows the game.
A key part of that is, whatever we think of it, players from the big markets; USA for sure, China as well, and Western Europe. From the G7 nations (Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, US and, of course, UK. And , inevitably and eventually Russia, who will come back as a power at some point and into the G8). That is partly why Raducanu being a big star is important and would help if she can get it back again. Narrative aligned to market size and consistency of rivalries is the dream and that is largely missing.

Rivalries are good but they need to be sufficiently interesting to infirm the narrative. Iga hasnt really set the world alight despite her success and Sabalenka likewise. As Mirra and Clara take to the stage in the WTA 000 final here we have one gifted young Russian and a powerful and competent Dane. Now that to me represents the embers of an interesting rivalry moving forward. I am a great fan of both players.hiwever it may be another false dawn. We shall see. Still trying to fill the Serena void.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Var, very good points I'd say.

I do want that narrative and rivalries but I am sure I would find them much the better for involving players that I personally have real interest in and enjoy watching, and these personal aspects mattering rather more than them suiting the global market, important as that is to grow the game

9vicman · Satellite level

So what we're saying is we're not very interested in the top female players AND they're not playing each other regularly enough to build a second level interest.

I wonder if there's also a bit of an eastern European bias. The public weren't so interested in Medvedev, nor Belarusians and Czechs on the women's side. We are excited about Fonseca, but how do we feel about Mensik, Lehecka and Machac. Huge generalisations here I know.

It doesn't help to have Ostapenko v Anisimova in the final. one week and then Andreeva versus Tauson the next. I believe Andreeva has star quality, both in her tennis and her personality, but not as much as if she was from elsewhere.

As an aside I think Tauson is a great ball striker when she's in position, but not a great mover or personality.

And I have always been a huge women's tennis fan, but having depth in the women's game shouldn't mean it being a lottery.

wales1994 · County player

I think it depends. Swiatek isn't a very charismatic player, Rybakina neither. Gauff being American and with an big personality, she gets traction to the sport. Sabalenka is also very charismatic and likeable - there's definitely been great PR over the past year for her.

Andreeva is very funny, says what she thinks and is an exciting player. Even though being Russian can often limit marketability, I think her personality puts her in another category. As soon as she starts winning big things - I think she'll be a big name.