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How Disastrous 2014 Wuhan Open Will Affect the WTA
Published: September 26, 2014
In its first year, this tournament offered $2,440,070 in prize money as a premier-level event. With a state-of-art tennis facility, Wuhan was supposed to showcase the commitment Asian cities are making to hosting professional tennis tournaments.
According to players, people in the host city have been gracious and welcoming. The facilities are top-notch. Yet, circumstances, those out of the hands of tournament organizers, have raised questions about the future of this tournament and the WTA's push to expand in the Asian market.
On the eve on the tournament, China's most successful tennis player, Li Na, announced her retirement. Li is the reason the WTA came to Wuhan, her hometown.
Maria Sharapova admitted to SI.com that she was unfamiliar with Wuhan. "I think I had to Google the world map to find [Wuhan’s] location...But then I heard that it was Li Na's hometown so it made sense."
Li told ESPN how disappointed she was that she could not play in the inaugural Wuhan Open. "After the surgery in July, I tried very hard to recover, hoping I can make it to participate in tennis matches in China especially the Wuhan Tennis Open which is the first ever big tennis match in my hometown."
Soon after Li announced her retirement, former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka withdrew and announced that she was done for the year. To make matters worse, Chinese No. 2 and U.S. Open semifinalist Shuai Peng lost her opening-round match.
In the second round, Serena Williams, who had received a bye, retired in the first set, citing a viral illness. Williams told reporters she "felt dizzy and nauseous in the first set and unfortunately couldn't continue."
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