WTA vows to address injury fears

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The Women's Tennis Association has promised to make big chances to the professional game in a bid to cut the record number of injuries this year.

Injury withdrawals from tournaments by players ranked in the world's top 10 more than doubled this season.

The WTA's Larry Scott admitted: "A season that overtaxes our players is hurting the fan experience.

"This data is a clear signal our season is too long and gruelling for even the finest women athletes in the world."

New data released on Friday showed that withdrawals from Tier 1 tournaments by players ranked in the world's top 10 more than doubled this season from 13 to 31.

The number of top-10 players pulling out of from the leading events has also jumped by 72% over the past five years.

Scott said: "Fans and tournaments deserve to see the top players and to be able to count on them

"Women's tennis needs to enact bold reforms in the name of player health and the continued global growth of the game. "

I know the tour is taking this issue seriously and I am looking forward to the changes that will lead to a healthier schedule for players Maria Sharapova

Scott said he had directed a special committee to develop rule changes for 2007 and 2008 that would provide short-term improvement to the withdrawal issue.

The changes will be finalised by the end-of-year board meeting at the Tour Championship in Madrid in early November.

Scott said Roadmap 2010, the tour's reform plan to ensure more leading players attend the most important tournaments, would be accelerated one year to 2009.

"These initiatives will ensure that not only will our athletes remain the most recognisable and popular female athletes on the planet but that we are able to sustain the incredible growth the sport has witnessed," he said.

Among the elements of Roadmap 2010 are:

<li></li>a shortened season ending in October<li></li>more breaks after grand slams<li></li> a reduction in the number of tour tournaments top players must play from 13 to 11<li></li>a streamlining of events with leading players competing against each other more often

US Open champion and world number three Maria Sharapova agreed the season was too long.

"I feel strongly the season needs to be made much shorter, with more breaks for players to rest in order to be in peak condition when we do play," said the Russian.

We've got a challenge on our hands today with the increasing number of top player injuries and withdrawals Billie Jean King

"I know the tour is taking this issue seriously and I am looking forward to the changes that will lead to a healthier schedule for players."

American legend Billie Jean King agreed something needed to be done.

"For women's tennis to be successful, top players need to be consistently playing each other in the Tour's top events," she said.

"We've got a challenge on our hands today with the increasing number of top player injuries and withdrawals.

"We all know that the season is too long and that top players need breaks so that their bodies don't break down."

Similar moves are being considered in men's tennis.

ATP chairman Etienne de Villiers wants to figure out how to discourage top players from withdrawing from tournaments.

The ATP already is trying to reduce wear and tear by eliminating best-of-five-set finals at tournaments that use best-of-three matches earlier in the draw.