As the WTA returns to China, Ostrava Open organizer Tomas Petera labeled the decision financially driven.
The WTA's decision to bring tournaments back to China has been an unexpected one and it was also met with skepticism and criticism from some. One of the people that sees the real reason behind the return is Tomas Petera, the organizer of the Ostrava Open WTA 500 event.
The decision to reintroduce Chinese tournaments into the WTA calendar has not only sparked debate about the organization's integrity, but it also threatens to disrupt the scheduling of other events as many of the previous tournaments had to be replaced for the last season.
In a candid interview with Tenisportal, Petera spoke openly about the financial pressures the WTA is experiencing and the impact it has had on decision-making. He stated that the WTA's return to China, despite the unresolved Shuai Peng case, reflects a desperate need for revenue.
"I think the people in management had no choice. It's about money and the WTA doesn't have it, so they decided to come back, even though they look like fools given the events that happened."
In the same interview, the 52-year-old Czech spoke also about the changes that WTA plans to make for WTA 250 events, starting from the 2024 season. His revelations were really surprising for the tennis community and only time will tell if the changes will happen or not.
Ultimately, the WTA's decision to return to China may prove to be a double-edged sword. While it may temporarily alleviate financial pressures, the move could damage the organization's reputation and risk alienating fans, players, and event organizers. However, the players seemed to be happy to return to China and even the world no. 1, Iga Swiatek said that she trusts WTA's decisions and so it seems that everything may end well.
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