New ball game in women's tennis
A shake-up of women's tennis will see overall prize-money rise by £10million but heavier penalties and a bigger onus on players to appear in tournaments will take effect next year, 12 months ahead of schedule.
Road Map 2010, the WTA's masterplan to revise the sport's structure and schedule, will be formally unveiled at next month's US Open.
WTA president Stacey Allaster, during a visit to the Rogers Cup in Montreal yesterday, revealed details of the ambitious overhaul which will be rolled out next year.
"The 2006 season was a disaster," said Allaster. "We failed to deliver on our player commitment to any of our top 10 events. We just felt something needed to be done now.
"We're trying to change a culture, where it's not an option but a commitment when you enter a top-level event. The top players will be doing the heavy lifting so they should share in more of the rewards, more prize money, more bonus pool money, more ranking points."
Tour prize money will rise from £32m to £42m next season but it will come at a price with a more regimented system and greater accountability.
Under Road Map 2010, 26 Tier One and Tier Two events will be combined into 20 Premiere tournaments with players committed to compete in at least 10.
Allaster said: "There's going to be a little less flexibility on where the players appear and if they don't play, then there's going to be really significant ramifications."
British No1 Anne Keothavong was beaten 6-1, 7-5 by 13th seed Maria Kirilenko, of Russia, in the first round in Montreal. However, partnering America's Alexandra Stevenson in the doubles, she beat compatriot Katie O'Brien and Chanelle Scheepers, of South Africa, 1-6, 7-5, 10-8.
