50 years of WTA management
View(s):Today, on October 29, WTA’s Top 8 will play for yearend WTA title in Singles and Doubles in Mexico. Certainly, a treat to Mexicans and to the global TV audience. Positions 9 and 10 in the current WTA ranking are Maria Sakkari and Karolina Muchova. They will be on call should slots fall vacant. The calendar this year began in December of 2022. After WTA final of 2023 in Mexico, players enjoy a break of five weeks. The Mexico event begins with Aryna Sabalenka as Singles No.1 and Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff as Doubles No.1.
Gender separation – Billie Jean King
In 1973, Billie Jean King, wanting equal pay and status for women, called for a meeting in England for the formation of WTA, a separate entity for women. It worried her, not knowing who and how many will turn up. Attendance had to be enough for WTA to take off. Now, on her birthday this year, she aired how relieved she was with the turnout in England. She is approaching her 80s now.
In accordance with WTA vision, many countries have separated men and women departments in national tennis management. On record, it has helped countries. Others await this development. Eventually, it will have to come. Separation permits better overview and attention to both.
Life after tennis
Tennis playing carrier is not forever. Touring veterans, regardless how prominent they are will find their post carrier prospects challenging. Often they end up having to start from scratch. Survival in commercial world is formidable as a tough tennis opponent – no sponsorships here. For some in the top 200 this year, it would be the end of the competition road. At or over 30 years of age with 15 to 18 years in the circuit, most of them are burnt out and unlikely to find the flame to carry on.
Post carrier – hotel owner Aga
Agnieska Radwanska of Poland was top two with Serena Williams in the WTA ranking. She retired at the age of 29 after 13 years in the circuit, and has become an hotelier. Now a mother and owns AGA Hotel, Katowitz in Poland – her hometown. She has thrown in over 25 million Euros to acquire a prime property. From being a top 100 to 5, Radwanska used her own innovations. This move sustained her to eventually to be No.2. She went away from then dominating power play and used the artistry of slice, lob, drop, mobility and canny anticipation. Aga brand of tennis. Now she uses her innovation to be customer attractive. When she retired from tennis, her win/loss record was 594/269, considered good – well done.
To keep the tennis flame alive and to promote the hotel, Radwanska named rooms with big tennis events she participated. The Wimbledon room has the London skyline silhouette. She was the runner-up in this to Serena Williams. Other room names are Roland Garros, Melbourne, and Flushing Meadows. Many famous events have a room in her hotel.
Tough part for Radwanska is to be successful in hotel business. A different money-ball-game. Ion Tiriac, from what I know is the most successful ex-tennis player, a billionaire in Romania – a rare feet. Very hard working person believes it is the only road to success and nothing else. He managed players, owned events, promoted tennis all his life. Now owns an airport, a bank and many more ventures. His knowledge of tennis is absolute. Another is Charles Passerel, he owned the Palm Spring event in California. From the present and immediate past lot of players, there are some top of the line entrepreneurs. Many retire from tennis every year without a prospect. We hear nothing about them.
Players as coaches
Coaching is an option to good tennis players. Many good players have taken this path. All agree one cannot coach forever, nor it is for everyone. Coaching is human resource development pursuit where motivation of players requires many external factors and involves very tiring follow up. What we have to know and remember is that not all junior aspirants have the potential to be a great player. Coaching carrier for ex-player will be a very complex learning curve. At present, it is in the hands sports management outfits.
These either own the training facilities or has the access to facilities and the best talents around the world. They place prospective players with best coaching teams, known to comb the planet for good talent. Maria Sharapova was one such find. All ex-players must impress management outfits to have a successful coaching carrier. In Sri Lanka, our work is only towards local junior ranking and broadband global participatory rating. Global prospect is a study to all would be professional tennis players.
–George Paldano, European and Asian competition player; Coach German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka; Davis Cup, Federation Cup coach, coached ATP, WTA and ITF ranked players in Europe and Asia; whatsapp +94775448880–