Serena Williams is not playing in the season-ending WTA Finals, but that doesn't mean her 2015 season is over.
The world's top-ranked player is scheduled to play in two events for the International Premier Tennis League in December, and the WTA appears to be fine with it, The New York Times is reporting.
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Not too long after Williams' stunning loss to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals that ended Serena's quest to win the calendar Grand Slam, she pulled out of the WTA Finals, citing injury. A day earlier, coach Patrick Mouratoglou said he thought Williams lacked the motivation to play.
But Williams seems to be motivated enough in Japan and the Philippines for a seven-figure payday.
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"Anytime you don't have Serena that's not a good thing," said Steve Simon, the new chief executive of the WTA Tour. "But she's not right now and ready to play, and she has to be to go on the court, and if she's not, then she shouldn't. And she's not going to. I think right now she is trying to get ready for 2016, and her mindset is that she wants to come back as strong as ever.
"Maybe she wants to go after that Slam again and see if she can do it," he added. "But it will be great to have her back in '16, and we hope she's coming back as energized and excited as she says she's going to be."
It's a curious position for the tour, which could fine her $125,000 for not making an appearance or promoting the WTA Finals. But the WTA also saw what happened to ticket sales and TV ratings for the U.S. Open finals without Serena Williams around.
Maria Sharapova may make more money in endorsements than Williams, but no one is as close to as compelling as Serena on the tennis court. Which could lend to the WTA's understanding position concerning Williams' wishes.
WTA president Micky Lawler told The Times that the tour is working with Williams to come up with another solution where she supports efforts put forth by the Singapore government.
"I think she's injured, no doubt about it, and I think that if your body is already hurting, to fly to the other side of the world makes little sense," she said. "What makes it hard is that at the end of the year, she's going to want to get some match practice and play a few sets here and there, and that is perceived by the public not in the most positive light. We understand it. Yes, we don't like it, but we understand it."
But it's not as if Williams couldn't find someone to help her get match practice, when she has one of the world's top 20 players living in her own family.
Sister Venus Williams, not to mention best friend Caroline Wozniacki, theoretically could help Serena get match-ready.
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