It’s a small step. But, on the scale of world tennis and its general cacophony for several years, it is a giant step. On Sunday, The Telegraph revealed that the ATP and the WTA had an appointment at the end of the month, in London, to discuss a possible eventual merger. Inevitably, on the circuit, the reception was enthusiastic, especially in New York.
“It would be great, really, summed up our consultant Alex Corretja. For me, all these Grand Slam tournaments are successes precisely because there are players. In principle, it is difficult to find opponents to the project, which had been relaunched in particular in the midst of a health crisis, in 2020, by a tweet from Roger Federer.
Many obstacles but finally real desire
On paper, therefore, everyone agrees. But the obstacles already seem numerous, even before meeting. “You have to understand that it’s not so easy to make a merger like that, in any case 100% because you need special facilities, added Corretja. But there are already the Grand Slams, so many Masters 1000 where they are together… For me, it would be clearer. Between the ATP, the WTA, the ITF, there are so many entities.” Without even counting the various institutions which bring together the players of the circuit, including the PTPA created by Novak Djokovic which continues to gain in influence.
“The good thing is that they are already talking,” also reacted Barbara Schett to this announcement, aware despite everything that there will be many issues to resolve. What about the sharing of earnings, largely to the advantage of ATP players today? What about TV rights, sponsors or partners, knowing that the two organizations have their own contracts? What about the aligned calendar?
The ATP and WTA logos at the United Cup
Credit: Getty Images
The obstacles are so numerous that the subject has long been postponed. When asked about such a project, Andrea Gaudenzi (ATP) and Steve Simon (WTA) often used their best language, extolling the principle without taking the first step. But, in recent months, they have finally resolved themselves. Because the secret history of such a rapprochement includes a third actor: Saudi Arabia.
Winning the Diriyah Tennis Cup is like winning a Masters 1000
As The Telegraph explains, the country’s growing interest in sport and tennis in particular has alerted the authorities concerned. The hypothesis of a parallel circuit, like the LIV circuit in golf, worries in high places. Thus, the leaders of the ATP and the WTA have acquired the conviction that to fight against this threat, being united is a fundamental prerequisite.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has thus secured the hosting of the ATP Netx Gen Finals until 2027 before being seriously considered to host the Women’s Masters. The outcry of former glories, such as Chris Evert or Martina Navrátilová, pushed the WTA to choose Prague instead, but the hypothesis remains real, especially since, in the men’s and women’s locker rooms, the subject is no longer taboo. .
In 2022, the Diriyah Tennis Cup exhibition tournament hosted Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem, Matteo Berrettini, Stan Wawrinka, Cameron Norrie, Hubert Hurkacz and Dominic Stricker. All in the middle of December, after an extended season. Why this choice ? The answer lies – perhaps – in the prize-money awarded to the winner. The American Taylor Fritz thus left with a check for one million dollars, more or less the amount of a Masters 1000 title. All for three small victories…
I came for the money
Afterwards, Nick Kyrgios had not tried to beat around the bush. “I came for the money, he explained. I did what was best for me. Here, everyone is extremely welcoming to us. We don’t feel in danger at all. It’s definitely one of my favorite places to go”. The financial power of Saudi Arabia, via its official organ of the PIF, therefore has real arguments to put forward.
Grigor Dimitrov (who had not played), Matteo Berrettini and Dominic Thiem during the Diriyah Tennis Cup 2022
Credit: Getty Images
Therefore, the ATP-WTA merger could make it possible to face this new cumbersome player head-on. In recent months, the ATP had itself imagined the creation of a 10th Masters 1000, which would be held in Riyadh. Where to place it in the calendar? Three scenarios had been imagined: in October, between Shanghai and Bercy, in December, at the very end of the season or at the very beginning of January, which would amount to competing with The United Cup created by Tennis Australia.
In short, the headaches are already numerous, without even mentioning the reaction of Qatar, a partner with the ATP for many years via… Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Obviously, the ATP prefers to share them with the WTA. The step forward is real. But it is somewhat forced…
2023-09-03 22:15:56
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