Howdy, y’all and Happy Tennis Tuesday! While we’re officially underway with the North American hardcourt swing, it hit me that August is literally knocking on the front door. While in the past, I’d have been extra excited for archived tournaments like San Diego, Carson or New Haven, the current setup the WTA has in practice already is giving me fatigue.
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This year will mark the first time that both WTA 1000 tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati will be 12-day tournaments. In previous years, both (Toronto and Montreal rotate spots on the calendar with the ATP hosting in the other city) events fielded lineups of 56 players which resulted in jam-packed scheduling and high-quality matchups from the first serve. This year, they’ll have the main draws receive 96 direct entries, turning the tournaments into the other massive WTA 1000s this year like Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome.
I admit, I don’t struggle with tournament fatigue with Indian Wells and Miami like I do with Madrid and Rome. Is it because a double two-week Sunshine Double has been ingrained in tennis history, while Madrid and Rome were always one week? Is it because I’m in America and it’s easier on the mind (and body) to follow the live action? Is it the slow clay court tennis in Europe that makes the days drag longer? Perhaps it’s a combination, but let’s delve into some pros and cons of this switch.
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Pros: Prestige, Paychecks, and Parity
At the top of the pro list is prestige. A two-week format elevates a tournament’s profile, making it feel more like a mini-Grand Slam. The slower build-up to finals, bigger draws, and increased media coverage give players more visibility. For the sport as a whole, this adds legitimacy and elevates the WTA’s top-tier events to a level that better matches the ATP’s Masters 1000s.
Financial incentives are another major plus. Longer tournaments mean larger draws and more matches — which means more prize money, hospitality perks and opportunities for lower-ranked players to enter and earn. This is especially important for a tour that still struggles with income disparity outside the top ranks.
Then there’s the push for gender parity. By aligning formats with the ATP, the WTA sends a clear message: women deserve equal footing not just in pay, but in scheduling and presentation. Combined events with two-week spans offer shared platforms for marketing and fan engagement, leading to increased attendance and TV ratings. While the tournament in Montreal this year is female-only, keep an eye on Cincinnati and how they’ll be scheduling and prioritizing matches this year with it being a combined field.
Cons: Fatigue, Flow, and Fan Interest
However, the extended format isn’t universally loved — from both players and fans. A longer tournament means longer commitments, increased physical and mental fatigue, and more time away from training or rest. This is particularly hard on those who go deep into back-to-back events, especially given the condensed nature of the WTA calendar.
Scheduling flow is another challenge. Two-week tournaments create logjams in the calendar and reduce the number of smaller events, which are critical for lower-ranked players needing match play and ranking points. As more big events expand, mid-tier tournaments get squeezed — potentially threatening the pathway for up-and-coming talent. No more Carson. No more New Haven. However, at least we still have Cleveland. O-H!
From a fan perspective, there’s a risk of over-saturation. While Grand Slams command attention over two weeks due to their global prestige, not every WTA 1000 has that kind of pull. Early-round matches can get lost in the shuffle, and keeping fan engagement high across 14 days is a tall order. Some, myself included, argue the drama and intensity of a one-week sprint is part of what makes certain WTA events so compelling. I’ve been telling many friends lately how I could recommend going to Cincinnati on that Thursday for Round of 16 day — you are guaranteed a blockbuster day, it was unreal. Now? It’s divided up into two days and at best you can assume a potential lineup. It’s just not as exciting.
The shift to two-week WTA 1000 tournaments signals ambition — a belief that women’s tennis can and should stand alongside the men’s game in every metric. But ambition brings growing pains. Striking the right balance between commercial growth, player well-being, and competitive integrity will define whether this evolution ultimately benefits the tour. I will admit, this year’s Madrid and Rome didn’t make me want to claw my eyes out as much as it did in 2024, so I’m giving them a chance this summer.
Now, on to links!
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This Week in Women’s Tennis
Leylah Fernandez won the biggest title of her career at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, denying Anna Kalinskaya her first WTA singles title. Taylor Townsend defended her doubles crown, this time partnering Zhang Shuai to defeat Caroline Dolehide and Sofia Kenin.
At the Livesport Prague Open, Marie Bouzkova became the first two-time champion from Czech Republic with her win over Linda Noskova. The doubles title was won by Nadiia Kichenok and Makoto Ninomiya, who downed Lucie Havlickova and Laura Samson.
Francesca Jones won the WTA 125 36° Palermo Ladies Open over Anouk Koevermans to crack the Top 100 this week. Estelle Cascino and Feng Shuo upset Momoko Kobori and Ayano Shimizu to take home the doubles trophy.
Congratulations to Taylor Townsend, who became the 50th Doubles World No. 1 in WTA history this week. Now, can she transform the visibility of WTA doubles?
In coaching news, Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou have split and the former World No. 1 has invited Tomasz Wiktorowski to Montreal for a trial period.
As Leylah Fernandez enters Montreal following her massive run in Washington D.C., the Canadian still is wanting to go on a date.
Venus Williams returned to the tour to an insane fan reaction, going viral for her health insurance quote and will be continuing her action with a Cincinnati wildcard:
Genie Bouchard lit up the Montreal crowd with a win in her final tournament, but is refusing to call her goodbye a “funeral.”
While Taylor Townsend defends the U.S. Open mixed doubles “tournament,” doubles partner Katerina Siniakova (rightfully) calls out the event:
Add Tereza Valentova’s name to the growing list of Czech names you’re going to want to know in the future.
Reese Brantmeier and Maya Joint’s lawsuit against the NCAA regarding non-collegiate tournament earnings got a bit more interesting:
Congratulations to Caroline Wozniacki, who welcomed her third child with husband, David Lee:
After a break for the Paralympic Games, wheelchair tennis is returning to the U.S. Open.
I love the ITF World Tour and a dog interrupting a match to steal tennis balls is exactly the lore that reels me in.
Tweet of the Week
L.O.L
Five at The IX: Washington D.C.
Q. Congratulations. Like you said, it’s sort of a testament to how in any given week your fortunes can change. Do you think there are things you unlocked in your game or an insight you have that can make this success last, that can keep this going for a long time?
LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I think the No. 1 thing is the 100% trust in myself, or at least the 99.9% trust in myself. I know in the beginning of the tournament was still a lot of doubt, but as the tournament progressed, I was starting to play better.
You know, I have gone through so many different challenges this week. You know, I think it just has made me stronger in a way that if I can get through this week, through the cramps, through the long matches, through the heat, the humidity, I can get through anything.
So I was just very happy that I got to not only push myself physically through the limits but also mentally. So that kind of will help me hopefully for future tournaments.
Q. Of course, fast turnaround for tournaments. Tricky to process the emotions, but how do you try and take positives into Montreal?
ANNA KALINSKAYA: Well, tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity. I don’t have too much time to think. Of course I will take my moment to reflect on what happened today to learn so I can do better next time in the final, but yeah, I don’t have too much time to think, because tomorrow already I need to practice, get used to other conditions.
This is tennis life. Everything is very fast (smiling).
Q. For both you guys, there was a moment in that presentation on the court where they were saying you were the first mother to reach No. 1 in the world, and Shuai, you walked up to the stands, got AG out of the stands. For both of you guys, for Shuai, to go up and get AJ out, and for Taylor, for you to see your son on the court in that moment, what was that like for both of you guys?
TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Well, it was amazing for me. You know, I have dreamt of moments like this, and I have envisioned having moments like that since he was born. I didn’t know when it would happen or how it would happen or where it would happen, but I have dreamt of it. It’s very special for me.
Shuai, she’s one of the most kind and considerate people I have ever met. It’s really hard to find that in the tennis world, honestly. So, you know, for her to be, like, No, I’m going to get him, because he needs to be here, you know, it was really special.
This has been honestly a dream come true on so many different levels, and for him to be here — I tell him all the time, you know, even after Wimbledon, when I left last year, I told him, I’m going to bring you back a trophy. And we had a trophy party, because I wanted him to know I’m leaving for a reason. I’m gone for all these weeks.
He has said so many times this week, I miss you while — where were you? Paris, London? I miss you so much. He’s been saying it so many times. I know he really misses me.
These moments create those core memories. I don’t know if you’ve seen “Inside Out,” but when the core memory drops down, that’s what I feel like is happening. And it’s really special to be able to have the pictures and the videos and these moments where I’ll be able to go back to it. And to share it with Shuai is, like, it’s really phenomenal.
Again, it’s something I have dreamed about since he was born, and I set it as a goal. I didn’t know how or if it would happen, and so it’s really special for me. Not only just AJ but, you know, I had my best friend here. She lives here. She’s a firefighter here. She was able to come out. And, you know, his caretaker, Carrie, who it literally wouldn’t be possible for me to do what I’m doing if she wasn’t around and in my corner.
So there are a lot of really special people that were here and a lot of pieces that go into this puzzle to make it work. You know, I would never take all the credit. You know, I’m out there and doing the work, but it’s a lot of moving parts behind the scenes that make this possible.
Q. Shuai, congratulations. You have played with a lot of players before, had a lot of partners, had success with a lot of different partners. I know this is your first time with Taylor, but why did you want to play with her? And what sort of unique qualities do you see in her as a partner?
ZHANG SHUAI: Yeah, I always ask Taylor if I have chance to play with her, because she’s the best. I mean, we play couple of times, all Grand Slam last year, US Open, this year Australian Open, French Open, Dubai. So we know each other on court very well, but we are not talking this much off court. So this week we talking about life, not only tennis, you know, not only on court. We talk about many things, so we feel like, oh, we are so many, you know, kind of like same personality.
So that’s make us so easy on court. So we feel like, you know, when we on court, we are like — we first time play together but we feel like one person, you know. I mean, but not everyone like this.
Some player you play many times, but you still feel like, oh, we are, like, I play my style; she play her style. But I feel like we are same style. That’s what we talking about before we decide to play together.
And also, I know the feeling, three years ago I’m almost No. 10, only 10 points become No. 1, in the same week after Wimbledon. And I say, like, Oh, I know the feeling.
So I try to come here and, yeah, I want Taylor dream coming true, because I know the feeling. If you miss the time, and then maybe you have to wait another one year, two years, three years, maybe five or so. I don’t want she waits. I want she win just this week (smiling).
Q. You talked after your first singles match how the headline for you would just be good health and the ability to be back on the court. Playing four matches in four days in these hot and humid conditions, how grateful are you to be able to do that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I’m so grateful. I feel like I ran out of gas today, unfortunately. I tried to find the energy, and I didn’t find it.
But, you know, four matches in the first week is a lot. You know, I love playing doubles. One of the reasons you don’t play is usually you’re just trying to save your energy, and plus it’s hot. When you’re doing the training and the warmup, you’re spending an extra hour sweating it out.
I’m really grateful. I think without that doubles match, I don’t know if I could have played as well in the singles. So I think everything served its purpose this week.
I’m sorry to have fell short, but I know I can play better and I know I will play better. Congratulations to Magda today. I hope we get another chance to play this summer so I can play a little better next time.
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