WTA draft
You’ve probably heard about Peng Shuai. On the court you know her as the former #1 doubles player and 2-time grand slam winner. Off the court we know her for many things, most recently for how, after raising accusations in early November of sexual assault from one of the most powerful men in China, she had her passport revoked and has been held under house arrest without the ability to communicate freely ever since.
The WTA is not the first sports league challenged to balance the power of business opportunity with the power of the Chinese government’s human rights abuses, but the WTA might be the first group to have the courage to risk revenue over ethics. Steve Simon, the CEO of the WTA, has been clear and firm from the beginning, demanding that “the allegations must be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship,” Simon said. “Our absolute and unwavering priority is the health and safety of our players. We are speaking out so justice can be done.”
Dick Pound, leading IOC member, with billions of dollars on the line with the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, has come out this week saying that Peng Shuai is “fine,” which is how things like this tend to go. The news will quiet down, the Olympics will be held, and everyone will enjoy the profits and move on, all while Shaui remains under house arrest.
Mr. Simon is challenging that model, and under his leadership, the WTA is willing to sacrifice billions of dollars of revenue in order to stand up not just for one of their own but for athletes and people who live without freedom everywhere. He is charting a path which, however it resolves, will serve as a blueprint for all sports and any business that does business in China but wants to stand against human rights violations.
Here at Grand Slam Tennis Tours, we support Steve’s work in the strongest possible terms because to do otherwise isn’t an option that aligns with our values. So the best way that we can demonstrate our commitment to Peng Shau, Steve, and the WTA, and all the other human rights violations within China that we aren’t talking about, is to support the WTA elsewhere.
With this in mind, we are very pleased to promote the WTA in the USA and lead with the exciting announcement that we are now the Official Travel Partner of the Credit One Charleston Open. The Charleston Open has long been one of the hidden gems of the WTA Tour. It joins a calendar that includes Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Western and Southern Open, and Tennis in the Land amazing WTA Tour events held throughout the US.
The WTA is experiencing a renaissance. In our business, we notice this through ticketing data. Demand for women’s tennis tickets is as high as we’ve seen in recent years, and tickets are selling for higher values than ever. TV ratings demonstrate increased attention on the sport, and brands are following suit, inking multi-million dollar sponsorship deals with numerous WTA stars. However, the clearest way we notice the strength of the moment for the WTA is simply from our seat, watching what happens on court; the Tour is as dynamic, and the players are as talented as they’ve ever been.
As Mr. Simon looks a global superpower in the eye and proclaims, “We’re definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it,” we feel inspired by the leadership of the WTA and their enduring commitment to protect the freedom of women athletes.
