WTA Championship should guarantee spot for GS winners like the ATP Masters

[tennisjunkiela]

The year's grand slam winners should gain automatic entry into the WTA Championship in the same manner that the ATP guarantees a spot in the ATP Masters. What are your thoughts?

In my opinion, if Venus, who is injured and currently holds the #8 spot by a slim margin, doesn't play, along with the other 2 grand slam winners, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Serena (who are also injured), the WTA Championship won't be a legitimate seaon-ending championship.

 

[Kevin Patrick]

I don't agree with the ATP allowing someone who isn't top 8 into the field & then promote them as top 8.

But in the wta case you mention, I'd rather see the sisters & henin in the field than say petrova or schnyder.

 

[The tennis guy]

Top 8 should qualify, no exception should be made for grand slam winners.

JHH said she would play if she qualifies. What do you mean it is not legitimate if players who are qualified withrew because of injury? If that is the case, most tournaments are illegitimate?

 

[tennisjunkiela]

Top 8 should qualify, no exception should be made for grand slam winners.

Do you also think that the ATP Masters should also exclude the grand slam winners? Seems to me that criteria for the season-ending championships should be consistent for both the men's and women's tours.

What do you mean it is not legitimate if players who are qualified withrew because of injury? If that is the case, most tournaments are illegitimate?

Imagine if Federer and Nadal miss the ATP Masters, because they are both injured or whatever reason, and say Davedenko wins, props to Davedenko, but I think most people would consider his title to have an * next since the top 2 players in the world were not there. "Illegimate" is probably the wrong word but you get the point. Same for the WTA Championship. if 3 out of the 4 grand slam winners are not there, the title has a hollow ring to it

 

[The tennis guy]

Do you also think that the ATP Masters should also exclude the grand slam winners? Seems to me that criteria for the season-ending championships should be consistent for both the men's and women's tours.



Imagine if Federer and Nadal miss the ATP Masters, because they are both injured or whatever reason, and say Davedenko wins, props to Davedenko, but I think most people would consider his title to have an * next since the top 2 players in the world were not there. "Illegimate" is probably the wrong word but you get the point. Same for the WTA Championship. if 3 out of the 4 grand slam winners are not there, the title has a hollow ring to it

Yes, I think ATP shouldn't make exception either.

We'll have a lot of * on tournament winners. Do you think we need to put * on Nadal's win in Madrid and Montreal because Federer didn't play? I don't. Do you think we need to put * on Graf's win during Seles' stabbing? Hollow ring is subjective, not objective.

 

[Da One]

The reason the ATP does the grand slam winner getting the 8th spot if he finishes in the top 20 is because its an agreement between the atp, itf and the grand slams to have that type of system for the masters. Most of the time it shouldn't matter because the slam winners generally garner enough points to get them in, unless we are talking about the women's tour, that's a different story.

 

[The tennis guy]

The reason the ATP does the grand slam winner getting the 8th spot if he finishes in the top 20 is because its an agreement between the atp, itf and the grand slams to have that type of system for the masters. Most of the time it shouldn't matter because the slam winners generally garner enough points to get them in, unless we are talking about the women's tour, that's a different story.

Because ITF wanted to have Grand Slam Cup if slam winners don't get preferable treatment on ATP for year-end championship. So it was a comprise.

 

[tennisjunkiela]

We'll have a lot of * on tournament winners. Do you think we need to put * on Nadal's win in Madrid and Montreal because Federer didn't play? I don't. Do you think we need to put * on Graf's win during Seles' stabbing? Hollow ring is subjective, not objective.

the reason why roy emerson, who has the most GS slams (12) next to sampras, isn't considered the 2nd best male player of all-time (he was ranked #21 by tennis magazine) is, because of the lower level of competition he played against in winning his 12 GS. 6 out of the 12 GS were won in australia when all the best players didn't travel to the AO, so yes, subjectivity plays a big part in evaluating one's career and legacy. BTW, there are many people who believe that graf's win need a * because of seles' stabbing.

 

[bcslice]

I think the WTA's year-ending championship should mirror the ATP's. By allowing Venus to play instead of Petrova or Schnyder, you're letting in someone who has a chance of winning the tournament. Petrova has never even won a tournament! So what if Petrova (who has played 22 tournaments) or Schnyder (who has played 24 tournaments) ends up being 20 points ahead of Venus (who's played 12)? Gotta give the slot to Venus, if she wants it.