What controversial ‘bye performance rule’ means in tennis

• WTA’s recent bye in tennis has stirred the waters
• One of the antagonists of this rule is tennis star Elena Rybakina
• However, Iga Swiatek holds a different opinion about it

WTA’s recent bye in tennis rule has stirred the waters, garnering opposition more than support by female tennis players on Tour.

First, performance byes in tennis popularly known as the bye rule means a top player in a tournament advances to the next round without playing against an opponent.

One of the antagonists of this rule is tennis star Elena Rybakina who protested WTA’s decision before the Tokyo Open and eventually withdrew from the event. The world No. 5, previously expressed dissatisfaction with the WTA’s decision to grant performance byes in the tournament. She, however, said that her decision to exit the Masters 500 event in Japan was not in any way related to the byes although she was not supporting it.

On the other hand, Iga Swiatek recently welcomed this approach by the WTA bye in tennis. She said it is a great approach for players who have tight travel schedules like her and many others.  But what is a performance bye and does it help?

WHAT IS A BYE IN A TOURNAMENT?

A bye in tennis grants a top-seeded player automatic progression through a tournament’s round without facing a challenger. The players get the byes in the first round of a tournament. WTA says that this rule exists in support of promoting great physical and mental form for players because it helps them get enough rest and rejuvenate.

Iga Swiatek has started her US Open title defence in a perfect way by defeating Rebecca Peterson in straight sets. Photo/ Sky Sports.

In the case of Swiatek, she says there are times she has had conflicting travel schedules and it always puts pressure on the player.

“I think it’s a smart thing; when I had tournaments where I went a lot of depth, then I know what it means to rush to the next one without time to rest and prepare,” Tennis365 reports.

The Pole adds that top seeds do not have a right to byes in any tournament but she acknowledges that some players may find the changes unsettling. She believes that adding an extra match only gives her more chances to triumph.

For Aryna Sabalenka, a top seed who is unhappy with this provision by the WTA says that this isn’t the best option. Taking away players’ byes that they have won through their ranking, in Sabalenka’s opinion, shows that performance byes aren’t a suitable answer. She thinks that giving a player a bye in a WTA Masters1000 event after reaching a WTA 500 semi-final is improper.

DO GRAND SLAMS HAVE BYES?

Bye in tennis does not apply in Grand Slam tournaments. ATP and WTA Tours have four major slams each year; the US Open, French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open. Among the reason why byes miss out in Grand Slam tournaments is because these tournaments are the most prestigious tournaments in the tennis calendar. Therefore; the organizers always ensure that all of the top players participate in every round and win on merit.

Byes are more common in smaller tournaments, where the organizers give the top players a chance to rest and save energy. However, in the Grand Slams, every player has to compete in every round, regardless of their seeding. The fairness and equality among all player levels safeguard this prestige that each Grand Slam tournament is symbolic of.

On the flipside, byes can be a disadvantage for the top players, because they play more matches than the lower-seeded players. However, it also ensures that the competition is fair and that all of the top players have a chance to win the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka. Photo/ The SportsLite.

WHY IS IT CALLED A BYE IN TENNIS?

The term “bye” in tennis originated in the 19th century with history pointing to French influence. Studies suggest that it emanates from the French word “bénéfice”, which means “benefit”. This is because a bye allows a player to rest and save energy for the later rounds of a tournament.

Another possible explanation for it is that it stems from the fact that a player who receives a bye does not play a match. This is similar to how a spectator can “bye” a round of a tournament by not attending. Regardless of its origins, the term “bye” is now firmly established in tennis terminology. It is used to describe a round in which a player does not have to play an opponent.

CONCLUSION

Byes have their pros and cons and as a relatively new approach by the WTA, it will unsettle some tennis players but it is what it is.