2023 Guadalajara Open AKRON receive $350,000 from WTA after myriad of top 10 players withdraw
WTAFriday, 06 October 2023 at 06:54
The official rules of the WTA require them to pay $350,000
to the Guadalajara Open AKRON organization due to the absence of 7 top-10
players in the tournament.
Just two weeks ago, the Guadalajara Open came to a close
with Maria Sakkari lifting her first WTA 1000 title and the second of her
career, defeating surprise finalist Caroline Dolehide.
The tournament was overshadowed by the consecutive
withdrawals of top-10 players who decided to quickly travel to the Asian tour
due to their schedules, thus avoiding Mexico.
As a result, only three top-10 players participated in the
tournament. These were Ons Jabeur, who was eliminated in the third round, the
champion Sakkari, and semifinalist Caroline Garcia.
Recently, it was revealed on social media that, according to
WTA rules, the organization must compensate WTA 1000 tournaments for the
absence of a certain number of top-10 players.
This depends on whether it is a WTA 1000 Mandatory or
Non-Mandatory event, as is the case with Guadalajara. According to the regulations,
if at least 7 top-10 players attend, no payments are made. However, the absence
of each additional top-10 player incurs a fine.
With the presence of 6 top-10 players, the amount is
$100,000, with five players absent, it's $200,000, and with four absent, it's
$350,000. The latter is the maximum amount in case more top-ranked players are
absent.
Considering the number of absences that the tournament
experienced, the WTA will be responsible for covering the amount. The absence
of top-10 players results in losses for the organizations, as it makes the
tournament less appealing to the audience.
“By the
official rules, the WTA was forced to pay last week $350,000 to the Guadalajara
organization because of the number of Top 10 players that skipped the event,” some user wrote on X:
"It actually might be even more, because rules don't even include the case in which only 3 Top 10 players attend a non-mandatory 1000"
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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