REFORM WTA

“This Tuesday, April 28, the one hundredth World Team Table Tennis Championships begins in London. Kicking off at the Copperbox Arena before moving to the OVO Arena Wembley on May 2, where it runs through the finals on May 10. This is a centennial event. The very first World Table Tennis Championships were held in London one hundred years ago, and the sport is returning to the city where it all began. The last time Wembley hosted the championships was in 1954.”

“On Wednesday, the WTA confirmed that CEO Portia Archer has stepped down effective Monday, April 20, right at the end of her initial contract and ahead of renewal talks. The news came through a memo from WTA chair Valerie Camillo to staff, members, and stakeholders, which was then shared publicly. No reason was given for the departure. In her note, Camillo credited Archer with expanding the tour into new markets, pushing player first initiatives, enhancing safeguarding standards, and driving tech innovation.”

“On Wednesday, Roberto Bautista Agut played his final match at Caja Magica, and the crowd gave it right back to him. The 38 year old Spaniard, who announced his retirement at the end of this season just last week, lost his first round match to Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tarante six two six four. But the score line was, in the words of the tournament itself, completely secondary. After the match, tournament directors Feliciano Lopez and Gabriin Muguruza, two legends of Spanish tennis in their own right, joined him on court to present a commemorative plaque.”

“Carlos Alcarez won the World Sportsman of the Year. Irina Sabalenka won the World Sportswoman of the Year. Both accepted their awards in Madrid just days before the Madrid Open draw came out. The ceremony was hosted by two former Laureus winners, freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu and the goat of our sport Novak Djokovic. Since 2000, tennis players have won the top men's individual award 13 times, and Sabalenka joins an illustrious group of WTA winners. The sport has never been more present on the global stage.”

“On Tuesday, Anz Jabeur announced the birth of her son, Elian Kamun, born April 20. Jabeur shared the news on Instagram with a message, a tiny miracle, a lifetime of love, alongside a photo of her and husband, Kareem, cradling their boy. The tennis world immediately flooded her comments. Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, Alina Svitolina, Leila Fernandez, Paola Badosa, Billie Jean King, the list goes on. They all showed up. Jabeur has confirmed her plans to return.”

“Camilla Giorgi, the Italian former world number 26, announced that she is expecting her first child with her husband, former ATP player Andreas Pizzuti. Giorgi retired from tennis in 2024 without so much as a goodbye tweet. But earlier this week, she responded to a few fan questions on Instagram stories confirming her plans for a 2027 return. For those who need a recap, Georgi's exit was one of the stranger stories in recent years. Her name appeared on the ITIA's retired players list without any announcement.”