WTA ‘trying’ to confirm year-end finals arrangements, says Lawler

WTA president Micky Lawler says that they are working hard to ensure the year-end finals take place in Shenzhen – but nothing has as yet been guaranteed.

“We’re trying. We just don’t know,” she said, explaining that the tournament organisers are working closely with the Chinese government to discuss arrangements.

The latter part of the women’s season has been badly affected for the second year running due to cancellations in Asia enforced by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and it is unclear whether the WTA Tour Finals will be able to head to China as initially scheduled.

“It’s true, having tournaments in China from September until the end of the season has a very hard impact on us, but China was a great opportunity for the WTA, and this choice has allowed us to progress in an important way,” she said in an interview with Tennis Magazine. “No one could have anticipated Covid. Name me one person who would have said no to the choice of China?

“The Shenzhen offer was a significant offer not only for women’s tennis, but for women’s sport as a whole, with historic prize money records. We were very proud when we accepted, and we are still very proud.”

Shenzhen hosted the year-end finals for the first time in 2019, when Ashleigh Barty beat Elina Svitolina to become the champion.

Last year’s event was cancelled.