WTA CEO Steve Simon admits late WTA Finals move to Fort Worth was down to China situation: "We’re not going to continue to do these one-year decisions"

For the second year in a row the WTA Finals were held outside of China where the organization should have held the events.

Due to the country's 'zero-Covid' policy, the events could not be held there with the ATP unable to make a return as well. WTA Chief Steve Simon explained after the WTA Finals that rotating the event every year is not something that will continue:

“We’re not going to continue to do these one-year decisions. It’s not sustainable. If it looks like we can’t go back to China or aren’t ready to go back, then I do think we will carve out a multiyear situation, because we need to for the business.”

The return to China is not certain because of the whole Peng Shuai situation and Simon confirmed that the WTA is not afraid to walk away from the deal:

“We’ve made a strong stand, and we stand behind that stance, and we’re not going to compromise our principles. Clearly when we did it, we understood eyes wide open what it could mean.”

He added:

“We’re still in the same place. If they come forward with something else we should look at, of course we are open to it. But we haven’t seen it so far. I’m hopeful we do find a resolution. That’s the goal, to find the right resolution. What’s the truth? Then we can move forward.”