Sony Ericsson WTA Tour continues its Charleston degradation campaign

The Family Circle Cup is one of only two clay court tournaments in the United States. Its first champion, Rosie Casals, won more prize money than had ever been awarded to a female player. The tournament was also the first women's tournament, amid loud protest, to ever be shown on television. The Family Circle Cup is also the longest-running women's tennis event to be sponsored by the same company throughout, and Meredith was the first company to sponsor a women's tennis tournament.

In short, there is no other tournament that can boast of such historic advocacy for women's tennis. It is also known as a "launching pad" for great champions. Women who have won in Charleston have gone on to do even greater things in the sport.

Last year, I was angry and disappointed to learn that $300,000 and some ranking points had been taken away from the tournament, reducing the purse to $1,000,000. On top of that, a hugely promoted smaller tournament in Barcelona was placed right before Charleston on the calendar, and many Charleston regulars went to Spain instead. To make matters even worse, Robin Reynolds--the Family Circle Cup's splendid director--was missing. No one could (or would) tell me why she left her position. There are many possible reasons, and one is that she didn't like being slapped in the face by the tour.

The slapping continues. The tour has just released the 2010 calendar, which informs us that another $300,000 in prize money has been removed from the Charleston purse, and $480,000 has been added to the Barcelona prize money.

I think we all get it: The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is doing everything possible to de-value a tournament whose history alone makes it one of the most important events in women's tennis. It is also one of the best-run (though more so when Reynolds was in charge) and most fan-friendly sports events around. The grounds are beautiful, the stadium and club courts are very nice, and there is generous player access.

To chip away at the Family Circle Cup is to chip away at tradition, women's advocacy, exciting American tennis, and good sense. It is an insult I take seriously as a fan, and it is an outrage.