Martina Navratilova tells Steve Simon to take responsibility for massacring the WTA Finals 2023 as matches get suspended for second consecutive day

Martina Navratilova raised questions against WTA chief Steve Simon over his decision to host the all-important WTA Finals in Cancun.

Martina Navratilova tells Steve Simon to take responsibility for massacring the WTA Finals 2023 as matches get suspended for second consecutive day

Martina Navratilova and Steve Simon. (credits: Le Monde, Tennis World USA)

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been one of the many individuals to point out the disastrous conditions at the ongoing WTA Finals. With the semi-final round set to be played, the entire day got halted due to the atmosphere in Cancun, where the tournament is being hosted.

With the rain blistering down and the conditions not at all suitable to host a tournament as important and pivotal as the WTA Finals, Navratilova took a brutal jab at WTA chief Steve Simon for not acting maturely and risking the health of several prominent tennis professionals.

YouTube video

She even went out at him, saying that the WTA board needs a new member, and this time they should hire a woman to understand different situations and make wise decisions based on them.

FS Video

It shouldn’t have come that late in the year, making this decision. There was a sequence of bad decisions. Ultimately, Steve Simon has been the boss for 9 years & here we are… to come to Cancun in the rainy season?

Martina Navratilova said via The Tennis Letter

She further added: 

You cannot be hoping it’s not gonna rain at a premier event for the WTA Tour. It was just a whole bunch of decisions. You have to own the bad decisions you made & make some choices after that.

Steve Simon responds to criticism regarding the WTA Finals being held at Cancun:

WTA chief Steve Simon has finally responded to several criticisms slammed on him by players due to the year-end tournament being hosted in Cancun. He has cited the reason, saying that his decision was “based on a number of complicated factors”. 

Steve Simon during a press conference. (credits: New York Times)

In a letter leaked by the media outlet Sports Illustrated, he wrote a letter asking the players to attend a meeting.

It is clear you are not happy with the decision to be here in Cancun. I understand that and you have been heard. It is not a perfect event, we understand the conditions are a challenge and the WTA accepts responsibility for that.

He further talked about how he understands that players are not happy to play at Cancun and reassured that he prooritizes player’s health as well. 

In case you missed it: