WTA’s bizarre July player of the month shortlist has a lot of people confused

It’s fair to say that the WTA hasn’t had the best PR year so far. After failing to provide its fans with a live streaming service until the eighth month of the year, the WTA has struck another blow to its image with a confusing July Player of the Month line-up.

In case you’re wondering, here’s the line-up…

July #WTA Player of the Month! @Madison_Keys, @KateMakarova1, Katerina Siniakova

VOTE–> https://t.co/XNp0Q0YxDX pic.twitter.com/K7ybJE5SOP

— WTA (@WTA) August 8, 2017

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, that is Madison Keys, Ekaterina Makarova and Katerine Siniakova on the shortlist. There’s just one problem… Madison Keys only won one match in July, while Makarova went one better with a mighty two wins.

Keys won 1 match, Makarova won 2 matches and Siniakova won 5 matches….. 😜😂😝 https://t.co/rMZP2x4A0y

— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) August 8, 2017

Sorry but Keys and Makarova won their title in August??

— Tony Fairbairn (@fairbairntony8) August 8, 2017

So why the confusion? Maybe the WTA needs a calendar and realise that Keys’ victory in Stanford and Makarova’s title in Washington fell in August. Ok, technically, the tournaments started on 31 July, but still, these are definitely August titles

The real top three are

Kiki Bertens: The Dutch came back from a disappointing few months in France and on grass with a double title win in Gstaad – taking the singles and doubles with partner  Johanna Larsson. Peng Shuai: The Chinese star gave some entertaining performances in WTA Nanchang, albeit against a weak field (Peng only played one top 100 player en route to the final). The final against Kurumi Nara was a joy to behold, though, where Peng came out on top in three tight sets. Garbine Muguruza: Wimbledon champion anyone? Ok, so Muguruza won the prize in June’s Player of the Month, but if memory serves correct, Wimbledon happened in July. No, it really did, meaning Muguruza has to be the July Player of the Month.

@WTA You do know that Garbine won Wimbledon in July and Petra made her comeback in June right? Your Player of the Month poll is a farce.

— Bridget Kulick (@BridgetKulick5) July 21, 2017

 

So what can the WTA learn from all of this? Buy a calendar and make sure they shortlist players who actually performed extremely well in the month of the award!

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