The ATP’s #NEXTGEN Race to Milan created a lot of intrigue and excitement for the sport, to see the next wave of young up and coming players.
So why doesn’t the WTA create a similar competition for teenagers age 16-20?
There is an abundance of young teen talents rising fast – Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimiova, Marta Kostyuk, Emma Navarro, Xiyu Wang, Xinyu Wang, Bianca Andreescu, to name a few.
Would you love to see this tournament come to reality?
No tags
catherine · April 7, 2019 at 3:03 am
I don’t think an event like this would attract crowds. Most people have never heard of those players and a lot of fabricated publicity wouldn’t do them any good either.
Let them play in the main events. There are enough tournaments for women anyway.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 7:15 am
I enjoy the ATP Race to Milan, and think a WTA version is worth a try. There was a lot of doubt about the ATP event, and it has been very successful. It is one way to raise the profile of the younger players, and it sounds like the ATP players enjoy their event.
I would be more interested in this tournament than in the WTA tourney at the end of the season for players that I think of as “also rans.” That one seemed especially strange when it followed the actual year end finals, although I think they have at least changed the time slot.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much faith in the WTA being able to successfully organize and promote a tourney such as this.
catherine · April 7, 2019 at 8:03 am
I just don’t think it’s right for girls. There’s enough pressure on them anyway and it’s a different kind of pressure than the type young men get. (Yes, I’d argue that) Really, why don’t they just enter tournaments in the regular way and then basically sink or swim ? There are plenty of junior events as well. This kind of thing would be just a gimmick. (I bet it would take place in China too.)
Hartt – you’d agree Denis and Felix both have pretty high profiles now – and they achieved those by performing well in regular ATP events. Neither of them needed any ‘NextGen’ artificial promoting. Similarly, can you see Bianca appearing as a NextGen ? She’s already there. So it’s a bit meaningless.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2019 at 8:45 am
Could be right Catherine, or how about combine it with a senior event, and do mixed doubles too? Or make NEXTGEN Milan a combined event? I like the clarity of the ATP NEXT GEN that Tsitsipas is the front runner, would like to see a frontrunner of the WTA teens too.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2019 at 8:46 am
Hartt, maybe even combine the event with the WTA Tour Finals? It would add an extra attraction and selling point.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2019 at 9:00 am
True Catherine, Andreescu is already there. No need for her to go backwards and play the young hunters again, let them come to her. But there are a lot of very good young teens out there, Connie Ma is a 15 year old who beat 30 year old Olga Govortsova in a pro event. I have no idea how Connie Ma got into a pro draw at 14 but she did win that match vs Govortsova who was a top 40 player. Emma Navarro just showed she is for real at 17 by almost beating Siegenmund in Charleston and making QF in doubles with another teen Chloe Beck. Katrina Scott and Robin Montgomery are two more US 14 year olds who did very well in the Grade 1 Internationl Spring Championships in Carson, CA. Montgomery already is ranked 68 in the ITF under 18s. Connie Ma is already ranked in the top 700 in WTA.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 9:37 am
If Félix and Denis make the top 10 this season then the Next Gen finals wouldn’t mean much, but right now I think both would be pleased to play it. Tsitsipas was doing well on the main tour last year, but he said winning in Milan was very important to him.
I would say the same thing would be true for Bianca, if there were the same type of event for the WTA. I am a huge Bianca fan, but she needs to continue to have good results before we put her ahead of the other youngsters.
Scoop, yes combining it with the WTA finals would be a possibility. But realistically, this is never going to happen.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 10:21 am
I checked the current standings for the Race to Milan. The top 5 players are pretty well known – Stefanos, FAA, Shapo, Tiafoe and de Minaur. But the next 5 probably aren’t known to anyone except big tennis fans – Kecmanovic, Humbert, Ruud, Popyrin and Moutet. Making the Next Gen finals would be huge for these players, and would increase their profiles dramatically.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2019 at 10:28 am
Hartt, why is it probably never going to happen? Anything is possible? I think it would add extra intrigue and excitement to an event which has struggled to capture the attention of the tennis public. Innovations are important. Can you name any innovations by the WTA in recent years that you like?
catherine · April 7, 2019 at 10:34 am
My point is that players aren’t really separated by age, rather by achievement. Maybe it’s because I recall a time when the No 1 player in the word was 18.Did Steffi need to play a NextGen ? Why divide them up ?
As for Bianca, she has the talent but the one thing she shouldn’t do is overplay. And she is ahead of the other youngsters by results. Just let her carry on the way she is.
Surely young players progress by playing in a main draw, taking their chances, not playing a tournament which is just another version of juniors for 16-20 year olds.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 1:37 pm
Scoop, I think your idea will never happen because I have no faith in the WTA to do anything sensible. Any innovations they’ve made over the last few years, such as on court coaching, were things that I hated.
And I understand that a big part of the WTA is a business, but it drives me crazy to hear Simon refer to the “product,” rather than the tour.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Catherine, who plays the Next Gen final is based on results on the regular tour, so only one tourney is added. With the Big 3 (or 4) dominating the ATP for so many years, it was hard for younger players to get any notice. The Race to Milan was an attempt to feature them, and it was successful in that regard.
catherine · April 7, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Hartt – I understand but I’m still not in favour of it. And the situation in the WTA isn’t quite the same as the ATP. In the 15 WTA tournaments so far this year there have been 15 different winners.
Women players have always been ‘the product’ – at least as far back as the early 80s. I’ve probably mentioned this before but I do remember your own Carling Bassett referred to as a ‘marketing mantel’. It’s ingrained in the business mindset. I don’t think these guys understand any other language.
Maddy won in Charleston – ‘annoying’ Caroline’s speech was twice as long as Maddy’s – nice feelings though.
Hartt · April 7, 2019 at 5:37 pm
I actually was able to see the Keys vs Wozniacki match, and it was quite entertaining overall. I was impressed with how well Maddie played. She used her power, but kept better control of the ball than she often does. And she gets a new Volvo. Poor Caro said she’s never won a car. Maybe Stuttgart will be her big chance.
catherine · April 9, 2019 at 9:46 am
Hartt – I read that Shapo has split from Rob Steckley and has reunited with his previous coach. Is this true ? Denis seems to have a had a few coaching changes.
Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2019 at 9:51 am
Keys could be the best player in the world but she doesn’t seem to believe it herself. Hope she finds the belief. This was an important win for her in Charleston.
Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2019 at 10:01 am
Shap back with Laurendeau doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. Shap is ripe for a really good coach, someone like Bjorkman or Goran or BG or Cahill. Or McEnroe.
catherine · April 9, 2019 at 12:11 pm
The coach mentioned for Denis is Adviano Fuoriva – don’t know anything about him – although Hartt will.
Also, rumours that the Hopman Cup may not be dead but sleeping – awaiting the magic kiss from a handsome sponsor. Can’t honestly see where it can be fitted in though.
Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Hopman Cup just has to get Federer and Bencic to play again for a few more years and it will not only survive but thrive wherever it may land. Federer and Bencic could be the difference between life and death for Hopman Cup. Hope they commit to play again.
Hartt · April 9, 2019 at 8:31 pm
Tennis.life has a piece on the Shapo coaching change.
https://tennis.life/2019/04/08/fuorivia-in-steckley-out-on-team-shapo/
Adriano Fuorivia was Denis’ coach during his junior years. They had a very successful partnership. When Tennis Canada offered Denis a spot at the National Training Centre in Montreal, Denis and his family decided that Denis should remain at home with his current team. (Although apparently Fuorivia even offered to move to Montreal to continue working with Denis.)
The Tennis.life site has a photo of Denis and his new (old) coach already working together in Monte Carlo.
catherine · April 10, 2019 at 8:26 am
adidas have its new spring lines out now – cutting edge fabrics and black/blue colour combo. Separates for women look good for warm weather.
However, I have to say the annoying Caroline Wozniaki is a better model than either Muguruza or Kerber – she’s the only one who’s got the pose down like a pro…..Hold it Caro, right there Caro, don’t smile – click click click. Now back to the day job:)
Scoop Malinowski · April 10, 2019 at 10:10 am
Think of all the different collections by nike, adidas, reebok, lacoste, fila, tacchini, etc. Every few months each year they change to a new look, new designs, new colors. It’s a wonder they can create anything new that hasn’t been done. Id like to see Nike revive some of their popular old looks that Agassi or Pete wore. Throwback collections. Fila tried that with Borg but it didn’t work.
catherine · April 10, 2019 at 10:48 am
What happens to the pro players’ used outfits – they have four new designs each year – do they donate to charity, throw in the dustbin ? I never see a player wearing an old (ie: last year’s) design, not even practising etc.
Throwback collections wouldn’t fly – you probably don’t remember the Ellesse tops and skirts – Chris wore them – no one would be seen dead…..
Scoop Malinowski · April 10, 2019 at 1:24 pm
You are probably right Catherine, the Fila Borg retro attempt failed. The public is programmed to always buy the latest fashions, it’s considered almost like some kind of fashion crime to wear old style clothes.