"Barely six months out, no announced site": Lack of WTA Finals clarity highlighted amid April Fools joke from tennis journalist

As April Fools Day brought every myriad of joke, tennis journalist Jon Wertheim used his one to instead highlight a real truth with the lack of clarity continuing surrounding the WTA Finals which are due to take place in around six months time.

Wertheim gave a few options as to which one of these is not an April Fools joke with one blatant winner. "Which of these is not an April fools joke: a) Federer to coach Djokovic b) Ivanisevic to coach Alcaraz c) Collins to reconsider retirement plans, given her A+ level d) Barely six months out, no announced site for WTA Finals, yet again....," the journalist wrote on X.

Read also

WTA RANKING Update as Iga SWIATEK extends World No.1 lead, Danielle COLLINS and Maria SAKKARI win big from Miami Open

To which former Serena Williams coach, Rennae Stubbs responded on X with "WTA" simply. The organisation continues to be under pressure on a multitude of fronts. The previous two years have seen the tournament announced barely two months before it was due to begin with last year being dubbed Cancun Chaos as stadiums had to be built at short notice and conditions were far from ideal leading to widespread player complaints.

"It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to say that we had highlighted a number of the issues, particularly on the WTA Tour. The truth is this (the 2023 WTA Finals) was a slow-motion train wreck," Stubbs said at the time surrounding the finals with many figures continuing to slam the tournament. Also in addition, a move to Saudi Arabia has been mooted for the next edition which has got a lot of people talking mainly due to the human rights laws against women and LGBTQIA+ people in place. This was questioned in particular by Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova who spoke out against the potential move and were slammed for having perceived outdated views by those involved in Saudi Arabia, with the duo invited since to show them that their statements are unfounded.

Read also

"We as players don't really have an impact" as Iga Swiatek shuts down questioning on WTA Finals Saudi Arabia move

Jon Wertheim

@jon_wertheim

·Follow

Which of these is not an April fools joke: a) Federer to coach Djokovic b) Ivanisevic to coach Alcaraz c) Collins to reconsider retirement plans, given her A+ level d) Barely six months out, no announced site for WTA Finals, yet again....

396

Reply

Copy link

Read 128 replies

Rennae Stubbs ♈️

@rennaestubbs

·Follow

Replying to @jon_wertheim

WTA!

18

Reply

Copy link

Read 1 reply