Daria Kasatkina slams WTA 250 rules as ‘stupid’ and ‘complete bull***t’

Ewan West
Daria Kasatkina on court
Daria Kasatkina reaction

Daria Kasatkina has criticised rules regarding which players can enter WTA 250 tournaments, labelling the restrictions as “stupid” and “complete bull***t.”

The world No 11 believes the decision to prevent top 10 players from entering events at this level makes it “very difficult for these tournaments to survive.”

Currently, players in the top 10 of the WTA rankings are only allowed to compete in two WTA 250 events each year. In addition, only one top 10 player can play at each WTA 250 tournament.

From 2024, players in the top 30 will not be able to compete at a WTA 250 event if there is also a WTA 500 held in the same week. There are some exemptions to this, including: the defending champion, players from the country the event is held, and players ranked 11-30.

In weeks with only a WTA 250 tournament, one top 10 player may play.

In a video on Kasatkina’s shared YouTube channel with girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, the 26-year-old discussed the rules while competing at the WTA 250 event in Palermo this week.

“Here at WTA 250 [tournaments], top 10 players are not allowed at all. There are very strict rules about how many WTA 250 [events] top 10 players can play,” Kasatkina said.

“That’s why it is very difficult for these tournaments to survive. I just don’t understand these stupid rules. They are only in WTA, not in ATP. In WTA, [it is] forbidden to play WTA 250 for the top 10 – only two per year, maximum.

“I don’t understand how do these tournaments make money if they can’t invite any top famous players. So they say that 250 category tournaments have no money. Of course, they have no money, they can’t generate it. They don’t help them.

“I just don’t understand. If you are top 10, you can play two WTA 250 tournaments a year, and only if there are no other top 10 in these tournaments. So there can only be one top 10 player on one WTA 250.

“Because in ATP, all these small tournaments, I mean category 250, they can two top 10 players. And people will come, they will watch, there will be broadcasts. There will be life in tournaments.”

Kasatkina also expressed her disdain at the further rule changes that will be introduced next year.

“Everyone knows about the new calendar. I think starting next year, the top 30 cannot play WTA 250, only WTA 500. This is complete bull***t,” added the Russian.

Kasatkina reached the quarter-finals in Palermo, losing to world No 52 Jasmine Paolini.

READ MORE: Russian player barred from entering Poland for Warsaw Open

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