Twenty-time grand slam champion, Roger Federer has called for the ATP and WTA tours to merge.
Federer wants the governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis – the ATP and WTA – to merge following the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on sport.
The Swiss maestro took to Twitter on Wednesday to voice his sentiments as regards his desire to see the two tennis tours combine to emerge stronger after the coronavirus crisis.
“Just wondering…..am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?” Federer wrote to his 12.7 million followers.
“I am not talking about merging competition on the court, but merging the two governing bodies (ATP and WTA) that oversee the men’s and women’s professional tours,” he added.
When a Federer fan page complained that there were different streaming services for both products, making it less accessible for fans, Federer replied in the affirmative.
“I agree with you. It’s too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories.
“It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time.
“These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with two weakened bodies or one stronger body,” he explained.
Tennis is well known for its fractured nature.
As well as the ATP and WTA tours, the four Grand Slams act as independent bodies, with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) another ruling tennis power.
Federer, too, has skin in the game. While he still operates on the tour, his Team 8 firm represent several stars in the sport, including Coco Gauff and Juan Martin Del Potro, as well has being the driving force behind the Laver Cup – the Ryder Cup-style competition that pits Team Europe against Team World.
ATP president Andrea Gaudenzi, who took charge of the men’s tour at the start of the season, recently expressed his plans to work more closely with the WTA.
“It is extremely important and I think it is one of our biggest advantages towards our competitors,” Gaudenzi told the ATP’s official website.
“Not only do we have a great women’s product, but also our audience is fairly split among women and men.
“A combined event, I strongly believe, is a better event both on site and [through the] media. It is just great. The variety is great.
“Our fans, they love both. We have strong combined tournaments within the ATP and the WTA and the Grand Slams are combined.
“It is really a no-brainer and actually, we are lucky to be at the forefront in that regard. Other sports should be looking at what we have done so far.
“It is really important and it is a huge opportunity because it becomes very appealing content for the broadcasters,” he stated.
The pull of men and women competing together was highlighted during 2019. Serena Williams’ doubles match against Roger Federer – not to mention their lesser-known partners Frances Tiafoe and Belinda Bencic – in the now defunct Hopman Cup drew global attention, while Andy Murray teaming up with Williams in mixed doubles at Wimbledon was one of the biggest stories of The Championships.
That said, not everyone would be on board with a merger and those working behind the scenes suggested it would be unlikely.
The ATP is a stronger financial product than the WTA and it’s understood that many male players would be against such a move for fear of diluting their income.
Nadal is among those who have previously challenged the idea of a merger between the two tours.
