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WTA Finals to be held in Guadalajara
WIth China shut down, the WTA moved its year-end round robin to 5,138 ft high Guadalajara, Mexico the week of Nov. 8. Will return to Shenzhen next year (for the hoped for Big Buck$). The event is not yet on the official calendar. The WTA reportedly gets half its revenue from its Asian swing, which is cancelled this year. So, moving the round-robin to Mexico is a bandaid on a gushing, red fiscal wound.
The second-largest city is at 5,138 feet altitude. World number 1 Ash Barty's coach has already threatened her pull-out due to the "conditions", which include using pressureless balls, as well as the need to quarantine before return to Australia, which could put her prep for her home, Australian Open in jeopardy. A WTA 250 was held in Guadalajara in March.
For perspective, Guadalajara is at 2.5 times the altitude of Madrid, where some (cough, Rafa) complain of the speed of play due to the thin air. Yet it is below Bogota's 8700 ft, where a WTA event is held.
Like Bogota, Guadalajara is above the 4,000 ft maximum altitude for which pressureless balls are designed. The prior WTA event there used Wilson US Open High Altitude tennis balls.
The second-largest city is at 5,138 feet altitude. World number 1 Ash Barty's coach has already threatened her pull-out due to the "conditions", which include using pressureless balls, as well as the need to quarantine before return to Australia, which could put her prep for her home, Australian Open in jeopardy. A WTA 250 was held in Guadalajara in March.
For perspective, Guadalajara is at 2.5 times the altitude of Madrid, where some (cough, Rafa) complain of the speed of play due to the thin air. Yet it is below Bogota's 8700 ft, where a WTA event is held.
Like Bogota, Guadalajara is above the 4,000 ft maximum altitude for which pressureless balls are designed. The prior WTA event there used Wilson US Open High Altitude tennis balls.