WTA adds two events to calendar, revises rankings system

The calendar now includes new international events in Prague and Lexington

Davis Cup: ITF nominates Nur-Sultan as venue for India-Pakistan tie Representational Image | Pixabay

The Women’s Tennis Association on Thursday said it has added two events to its 2020 provisional calendar which will now feature 21 tournaments. The calendar now includes new international events in Prague, Czech Republic and Lexington, US.

The WTA Tour was suspended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will resume with the tournament in Palermo on August 3.

“As the WTA Tour looks to return to competition in 2020, we are pleased to provide additional playing opportunities for our athletes,” WTA Chairman Steve Simon said. “We are delighted to welcome the teams in Prague and Lexington onto the 2020 provisional calendar and look forward to the return of women’s professional tennis.”

The Prague Open and the Top Seed Open presented by Bluegrass Orthopaedics (Lexington) will begin on August 10.

The WTA had stated last month that the calendar is conditioned on several factors including the ability for play to safely resume in line with the guidance of medical experts.

Citi Open organisers in Washington confirmed that they will not stage a women’s tournament this year with the Lexington event to take its place on the calendar. However, the tournament will be held as a “completely separate event” in 2020.

The WTA also announced a revised rankings system after the resumption of the tennis season. The rankings, which traditionally operated on a “Best 16” results basis over 52 weeks, will now cover a 22-month period from March 2019 through December 2020.

A player’s ranking will be comprised of her “Best 16” results over the 22-month period and the same tournament cannot be included twice in her breakdown.

(With inputs from agencies)

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