New innovation idea: WTA joining the Next Gen Finals action in 2020

It was an exciting week in Milan with the Top eight, 21-and-under men playing in anything but traditional matches. The Next Gen Finals not only showcases a new generation of players, but also new technologies and innovations. The third installment of the end-of-year event saw nine different concepts brought onto the court but there's always room for more.

Shorter sets were played, headset coaching was provided and wearable technologies were worn, but perhaps one innovation could be missing. What if the WTA's next gen players joined the action in Milan?

With tremendous amounts of transformation and excitement occurring on the indoor courts in Italy, why stop with the men? Players such as Bianca Andreescu (who would lead the hypothetical 2019 standings), and Amanda Anisimova made waves on the WTA tour this season. Andreescu captured her first Grand Slam title at this year's US Open, defeating 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the final. Anisimova was the youngest player born in the 2000s to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam. With the future of women's tennis gleaming, it could be only bring more excitement to the unique event.

Tennis Channel: WTA Next Gen Hypothetical 2019 standings

This event is at the forefront of change, and it would be interesting to see how the current ATP innovations would emerge on the women's court. The WTA would also have the opportunity to develop some of their own innovations specifically tailored for the women . The joint-event could also display potential innovations that could bring more attention to the doubles courtby diving into mixed-doubles play.

With the Next Gen finals being a test bed for radical new ideas, it also looks for new ways to revamp the sport and appeal to younger audiences. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in their 30's, the ATP realizes they won't be around for much longer and the need to appeal beyond the passionate followers of the sport’s brightest but fading stars. This same storyline is also true for the WTA with new names reaching the deeper rounds and the well-known falling short.

Will we see the women take the court in 2020? It's an interesting idea and one that could only be beneficial for the WTA tour.