According to reports, a major change in the sport is being discussed. Major stars have also spoken out about this in the past.
The professional tennis organisations for men (ATP) and women (WTA) are discussing a merger, according to a media report. A two-day summit is to be held in London at the end of September to discuss the issue, the Telegraph reported on Sunday. According to the report, the organisations are also driven to this step by the fear of an increased influence of Saudi Arabia in world tennis and of an own tournament series by the kingdom as in the Gulf. The ATP and WTA were approached for comments at the US Open in New York.
The tours away from the four men’s and women’s Grand Slams have traditionally been organised by different organisations. Both ATP and WTA have their own sponsors and TV contracts. This is one reason why the prize money for women players for comparable tournaments is significantly lower than for their male counterparts over the course of the season. A merger could lead to an equalisation, as already exists at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open as well as some Masters.
“My vision for tennis “
A joint organisation has been debated in world tennis for some time. “Am I the only one who thinks now is the time for a unification of men’s and women’s tennis?” superstar Roger Federer wrote on Twitter at the time in 2020.
Tennis icon Billie Jean King, who helped found the WTA 50 years ago, replied to the Swiss: “I agree and I have been saying this since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for tennis.” American legend John McEnroe reckoned this summer that the organisations would be united in five years at the latest.
