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Ash Barty’s camp has undergone a “frightening” change in the tennis season that could see him miss a multi-million dollar salary.
World No.1 Ash Barty may not defend her title in the WTA season-ending finals in Mexico due to “ridiculous” playing conditions at the venue and tournament schedule, coach Craig Tyzzer said.
The WTA Finals, contested by the world’s eight best players in singles and eight teams in doubles, have been moved to Guadalajara from Shenzhen in China this week due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will begin on November 8.
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Tyzzer said Barty, who won the WTA 2019 final before the 2020 edition was canceled, could also jeopardize her preparation for the 2022 Australian Open if she played in Mexico, as she would have to endure two weeks. home quarantine upon his return to Australia.
The 2019 WTA Finals had a prize money of $ 19 million and is the richest event on the WTA calendar. Barty pocketed $ 6.4 million for winning two years ago – the biggest check in the history of men’s or women’s tennis.
“We just found out that it’s in Mexico at 1,500 meters (above sea level) and that they use pressure-free balls,” Tyzzer told AAP Wednesday.
“Unpressurized bullets absolutely fly. It is a ball which, if you use it under normal conditions, does not bounce. It’s not the best ad for the best girls in the world to play something they’ve never done before.
“In conditions where they’ve never played, in a country where they don’t play and at altitude, I just think it’s ridiculous. As a show, it’s just scary.
Barty, who suffered a third round exit at this month’s US Open, is “physically and mentally exhausted,” Tyzzer said.
“Indian Wells (next month) is still on the radar but just needs a rest,” he added. “So I told him to just get away and take a vacation.
“It’s definitely not easy for us to get there and play this event in Mexico and then come back and have to do two (more) weeks (in quarantine) and then your summer is kind of ruined too.
“It’s a decision that we’ll have to sit down and think about a bit.
“We were first told it was Hong Kong, then we were told it was Prague and all of a sudden we hear it’s in Mexico.
“It’s almost like it’s a last breath. That doesn’t strike me as they really try to promote the best girls in the world to the top eight as a showcase, to put it where it is.
Barty has been on the road since leaving Australia in March and will no doubt be looking forward to getting home when she can.
She won Wimbledon in July but suffered a surprise loss to American Shelby Rogers at Flushing Meadows, ending her hopes of winning another Grand Slam title this year.
“It’s disappointing. Hard to swallow,” Barty said after the game. “It sucks in tennis that there is a winner and a loser every day.
“You can’t win every tennis match you play.
“I am proud of myself and my team for all the hard work we have put in over the past six months. It has been quite incredible. I don’t think we could have asked for much more honestly. I wouldn’t change a thing.
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