WTA looking to change current ranking system<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is
\nconsidering changing the current ranking system in order to
\nencourage big names to play in small tournaments.<\/p>\n
Marianne Werdel Witmeyer, the new president of the WTA Tour
\nPlayers association, said yesterday at the Senayan tennis complex
\nthat elite players usually refuse to enter small tournaments
\nbecause it will jeopardize their rankings.<\/p>\n
According to the current rules, top players will drop a
\nconsiderable amount of ranking points if they fail to win titles
\nin low-rated tournaments they participate in. It is this rule
\nthat Werdel Witmeyer is considering changing.<\/p>\n
Werdel Witmeyer, who replaced Martina Navratilova in September
\nlast year, is here for the Danamon Indonesia Women's Open
\nchampionships, now underway until Sunday. The president, who
\nserves for one year, represents players in all WTA tours.<\/p>\n
As for the week-long tournament here, the new president,
\nherself an active player ranked 43 in the world, said that the
\n"difficult time" has resulted in none of the world's top 10
\nplayers taking part.<\/p>\n
"Right now we have two tournaments in the United States, and
\nothers in Europe are about to start," she said.<\/p>\n
"Besides, the weather here is too hot while for next week's
\nJapan Open tournament, it will be cold," she added.<\/p>\n
Werdel Witmeyer admitted that she was disappointed with the
\nabsence of players ranked among the top 10 here, although the
\norganizers were prepared to provide luxurious facilities.<\/p>\n
The annual Indonesia Women's Open moved up from a tier-three
\nto tier-four tournament last year, as the country celebrated its
\ngolden anniversary. Last year's championships took place in
\nJanuary and served as a warm-up for the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old president, however, confirmed that Indonesia
\nwill have to return the rights to host a tier-four tournament to
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
She suggested that Indonesia hold its own tier-four
\ntournaments for the benefit of local players.<\/p>\n
"Having a tier-four tournament here will give chances for
\nAsian players from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and others, to
\nparticipate and improve their rankings," she said.<\/p>\n
Werdel Witmeyer also gave a special recipe to Indonesia on how
\nto attract bigger crowds to come to the tennis stadium.<\/p>\n
"You can invite one of the top ten players to come here to
\ngive clinics and short course to juniors. But you have to provide
\nextra money," she said. (05)<\/p>",
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