Madison Keys achieved the breakthrough that she waited for an entire career last weekend, Win his first great home career at the Australian Open. His reward: a small tournament being forced to cancel his entry.
Due to a strange rule preventing more than one player among the first 10 participating in a WTA 250 tournament, the ATX Open announced Tuesday that Keys would no longer be eligible to participate in the event. The Austin -based tournament already has the No. 6 Jessica Pegula is committed to playing.
Keys was ranked 21st when she agreed to play the Atx Open and 20th as recently as on January 6. However, she has since won the WTA 500 International Adelaide and the Australian Open, giving it enough points to push it to seventh in three weeks.
The director of the Christo Van Rensburg tournament deplored the rule while praising Keys in a press release:
“Each year, ATX Open strives to bring some of the best female players to the world to Austin to participate in our tournament. This year is no exception. The success of Madison in Australia, where it has played legendary tennis on a world scene, is additional proof that the Atx Open attracts its game here in the game.
“Although we want the first 10 rule does not apply to our tournament, we respect the rules of the WTA. That said, the Title du Grand Chelem de Madison and the global classification of the Top 10 subsequent are both something to celebrate. We are looking forward to inviting Madison to Future Atx again open us.
The WTA prohibits 250 tournaments for the reservation of several best players in order to “ensure a balanced competition in all the events of the WTA organized during the same week”, as explained by the Atx Open. The ATP, the male counterpart of the organization, does not have such a rule. There is at least one exception allowing the champions in title to return even if there is another top 10.
In practice, the configuration is not popular and leaves 250 tournaments lacking in star power. It is rare to find a sports league with rules prevention Its most popular players in event participation, but the WTA apparently prioritizes a balanced schedule.
Of course, all the price keys will be happy to pay its success last week.
