Sloane Stephens is confident the WTA will instill some new changes related to the tournament schedule by next year, saying there will be a 'new dynamic' for everyone.
Speaking to the press following her straight sets win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto at the Cincinnati Masters, Stephens said that players are entitled to express their standing on any matters related to concepts such as equality, fairness, and integrity of the sport.
She says that the Tour was a lot different when she was an up-and-coming player over 10 years ago. Constant changes have seen women's tennis evolve at a fast pace and well on its way to bridging the gap in terms of equal prize money.
Stephens is optimistic some of these changes will come to fruition by next year. Last week, the Canadian Open took center stage in its scheduling of late-night matches which heavily impacted players' performances.
"Yeah, we can say how we feel, but at the end of the day, this is a business. So it's where we are now obviously on the way to equal prize money, the tournament is getting longer, I think it will be a new dynamic for everyone."
"Obviously when I came on the tour, it was very different. The tournament schedule was very different to what it is now. I think next year will be an interesting year for everyone, because it will just be a new dynamic, be very different."
Increment of prize money outside Grand Slam level is expected to happen gradually at WTA 1000 and 500 levels over the next few seasons. In 2024 there will be 10 WTA 1000 tournaments of which several of them will transition into two weeks of competition and expanded draw sizes, which will become clear in early March according to Stephens.
"We kind of take it in stride, and I will say that I'm optimistic for a good schedule and outcome and players will be happy next year. But we don't know until obviously, we get to Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, until we are actually in it."
"So we just stay optimistic and we'll see how it goes. The tournaments will try to do their best and players will try to do their best, be good sports about it and manage the things the best they can and we go from there."
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