“This is the worst tournament of all time. Embarrassment” – Fans outrage as WTA Finals 2023 semis of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka get suspended due to horrible weather conditions
The semifinal match of the WTA Finals between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek was stopped after three games due to rain.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek (Credits: Sport.pl)
The WTA Finals, the year-end tournament for the top eight women’s singles players, was interrupted by rain on Saturday. The semifinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek was stopped after three games because the court was too wet to play on.
The match will be finished on Sunday. The winner will play Jessica Pegula in the final on Monday. Pegula defeated Coco Gauff in the other semifinal match.
The rain has messed up the tournament schedule. For context, the final was supposed to be on Sunday, but it has now been moved to Monday, which means that the winner of the Sabalenka-Swiatek match will only have less than 24 hours to rest before playing Pegula in the final.
The match between Sabalenka and Swiatek could well determine who ends the year No 1 in the rankings. If Sabalenka wins, she’ll retain her No. 1 ranking; if Swiatek wins and then goes on to beat Pegula in the final, she’ll reclaim the spot she held for the first eight months of 2023.
The rain has been a big problem all week. Several matches have been delayed or stopped. Some players are unhappy about the situation and are wondering why the organizers chose to hold the tournament in Mexico, where the weather is often unpredictable.
Fans criticize WTA for the suspension of matches
The unexpected rain delay that halted the WTA Finals semifinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek has sparked a diverse range of reactions from fans, with some expressing empathy for the players and others voicing disappointment over the disruption to the tournament schedule.
On social media platforms, a wave of support emerged for the players, acknowledging the challenging circumstances they faced due to the inclement weather. However, a different sentiment prevailed among other fans, who questioned the organizers’ decision to host the tournament in Mexico, a region known for its unpredictable weather patterns.
It is a well-known fact that the WTA hastily chose Cancun as the official spot for the tournament. Players have also voiced their concerns over the arrangements made.
As they arrived to play the tournament, the stadium was still in the process of being built. Thereafter, the tennis champions couldn’t practice on the court before their matches. Aryna Sabalenka also raised the issue of the courts being unstable and unsafe for playing, and many backed her claim.
Recently, Sabalenka’s decider match with Elena Rybakina was also suspended due to rain. Coco Gauff’s semi-final match against Jessica Pegula was also delayed due to similar weather conditions. Notably, all this has culminated in a robust reaction from the fans.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
The fans are absolutely enraged by the situation at Cancun and feel bad that the top ranked players of the world have to suffer through such poor management.
In case you missed it:
- WATCH: Coco Gauff’s umbrella snaps as weather conditions wreak havoc at the WTA Finals 2023
- Emma Raducanu admits she’s ‘ITCHING’ to return to the court after surviving a tough time following her surgeries
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Tanisha Kapoor
(160 Articles Published)