Women's tennis organisers announced a new calendar on Friday that will significantly shorten the season from 2009. The WTA's new "Roadmap" calendar will trim the current 25 tier one and two events to 20 premium tournaments anchored by four mandatory events featuring increased prize money and a greater geographical spread.
"We have fought extremely hard to get a longer off-season and finish in October," WTA chief executive Larry Scott told reporters in Wimbledon after announcing Doha as the 2008 season-ending championship hosts. "The Roadmap will reduce players' commitments, preserving their health...and allowing them to play at their very best."
Many players have said their fitness has suffered because of the pressure of an 11-month season. World number two Maria Sharapova has suffered constant shoulder injuries this season, five-times grand slam champion Venus Williams has had wrist problems and former world number one Kim Clijsters retired in May, aged only 23, after a series of injury breakdowns.
The change has been welcomed by Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo. "We've all said we play too much and the season is too long. I'm happy we have finally been heard by the tour. It's a big step forward," she said. All top players will now be have to play in the four main tournaments in Miami, Indian Wells, Madrid and Beijing. However, their total tournament commitments would drop from 13 to 10 with the season ending two weeks earlier in October.
The mandatory events will feature equal prize money bumping the projected annual prize fund to $77 million, an increase of $10 million from 2008. The calendar will also bring new events to Bangkok, Singapore and Brisbane. The European autumn indoor season that will stop off this year in Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Austria is to be scrapped.
WTA organisers also announced the adoption of the men's doubles format replacing all third sets with a super tiebreak. Games in doubles will also be decided by a first point after deuce format.