Cash for the WTA

Good morning. The first quarter of the 2024 season finished strong in Miami, with Danielle Collins completing her fairytale run with the trophy, and with Jannik Sinner continuing to show us why “he’s him”.

ATP

Let the slipping and sliding begin

Welcome to the clay court season, where tennis starts to look more like a 13 year old’s summer slip-n-slide birthday party. Players are re-learning how to slide and hit at tournaments in Marrakech (Morocco), Charleston, Houston and more right now. The men start yet another Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo next week, while the next biggest tournament for the women is in late April (Madrid). In tax avoidant haven, F1 loving, water-front Monte Carlo, Andrey Rublev will look to defend his title, while clay-court specialists like Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, and Lorenzo Musetti attempt to put big points up on the board. 11-time champion and undisputed king of clay, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn at the last minute, citing that his body just isn’t ready. Fingers crossed he’s ready by Roland Garros.

Trivia

Which of the following players has not won an Olympic Gold Medal?

1. Roger Federer

2. Rafael Nadal

3. Andy Murray

4. Novak Djokovic

Find out at the bottom!

WTA

Live look at the WTA

The WTA announced that the season-ending Finals tournament will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the next 3 years. Offering a record $15.5 million in prize money this year and further investments in the WTA, it’s safe to say that the Saudi Tennis Federation used their deep pockets to bring the finals to them. But not without controversy. As a country with limited women’s rights, Saudi Arabia doesn’t seem to espouse the foundational value of equality that the WTA is built upon, leaving many players and fans unhappy with the decision and its future implications. If you recall, in 2022, the WTA boycotted tournaments in China after the country effectively silenced its player Peng Shuai for seemingly accusing a top official of sexual assault. Then WTA CEO Steve Simon took a bold stance by stopping tournaments in China, and said, “If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded — equality for women — would suffer an immense setback,” he added. “I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.” Time will tell how this sportswashing will change the WTA. Oh, and the WTA isn’t alone. The ATP has received a 2 billion dollar investment offer from the Saudi Tennis Federation too.

More News & Media

• The ATP is testing out a few new doubles rules at the Madrid Open. After rallies less than 3 shots, players will only get 15 seconds before the next point. Players will also not be allowed to sit down during change-overs during the first set, and more. Feels like college tennis!

• After the Miami Open, a resurgent Grigor Dimitrov is back in the top 10 for the first time in many years, and Jannik Sinner has reached an all-time high ranking of No. 2 in the world. It’s only a matter of time until he bumps Djokovic from No 1.

• The USTA announced a goal to make the US the number one tennis-playing nation in the world by 2035. The organization aims to increase the number of Americans playing the sport to 10% of the population (35 million players) by then.

• Pickleball pro Christian Alshon said that pickleball has made him a better athlete than tennis ever did. James Blake, Nick Kyrgios and other tennis stars (rightfully) ripped Alshon up. Here’s the thread.

• Legendary coach and leader of the USTA Player Development program Jose Higueras wrote a not-so-subtle email to many folks involved with the USTA about the lack of and mismanagement of funds.

Thanks for reading!

DP 🤠

Answer: Novak Djokovic. It’s one of the few heights in his career that he hasn’t achieved.