Amid concerns raised by some players about closed-door events and the passage from one bubble to another on the Tour, ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi has opened up to the issue. In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Gaudenzi said that the NBA model was examined as an alternative, but was deemed not feasible for tennis.
ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi says centralized bubble may alienate broadcasters and sponsors In a novel move to ensure player safety and reduce the risk of infection during the season, the American National Basketball Association (NBA ) installed all participating players, coaches and staff on its sprawling Walt Disney World campus in Orlando, Florida.
It was decided that all teams that made the play-offs would remain in the centralized bubble until the season was over and it was dusted off. Additionally, the latest round of testing between teams came back negative for Covid-19, prompting comments about the introduction of a similar model in tennis.
However, Gaudenzi said it has been determined that the NBA model will not be sustainable for the ATP as its events take place in different geographies. “Unfortunately for tennis, because we are global, different continents, different time zones, you move an event to a different location, you not only lose ticket sales, but you also lose sponsorship,” said the ATP chief.
He added that if all players are moved to a centralized bubble, broadcasters and sponsors would be forced to renegotiate with the men’s tennis governing body and could even withdraw from the tournaments for which they were hired to cover and fund.
“So you basically have to start, almost from scratch. Ticket sales, sponsorship and broadcast completely review the platform from a revenue point of view, ”Gaudenzi added.
He said that while borrowing the NBA model will save players the hassle of traveling in times of Covid, entering a different bubble each time, it will not help the funding crisis the ATP is currently dealing with.
“You lose more money doing that,” argued the head of the ATP. People such as veteran French tennis star Benoit Paire and rising Canadian Denis Shapovalov recently spoke about how bubbles were leaving players unmotivated to compete, especially at a time when prize money at most events was draining away. is shrinking due to the pandemic.
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