US Open director reveals ATP and WTA are about to merge! Federer and Nadal: Supportive

“When these discussions take place, it’s important not to view the merger solely from a male perspective, but to include more women in leadership roles so that everyone’s voice is heard.”

This is the genuine viewpoint of two-time Wimbledon winner Murray on the possible ATP and WTA merger. Over many years, these two tennis bodies have been examining how to work together and form a single organization. Now, this long-rumored “joint action” seems close to fruition.

According to Daniel Kaplan, a reporter for Awful Announcing, on October 16, “The ATP and WTA tours are very close to reaching an agreement to merge their commercial operations.”

Recently, Stacey Allaster, the US Tennis Association’s professional tennis director and CEO, also stated at a meeting at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies: “Currently, this is the closest the two sides have been to integrating their commercial assets. They are almost at the doorstep of signing an agreement, and the two will become one commercial entity.”

For those unfamiliar, this “merger plan” has actually been discussed for many years. However, the main obstacle slowing progress has been disagreements over revenue sharing between ATP and WTA. The ATP has tried to convince the WTA that men’s tennis is more commercially attractive and valuable, especially compared to the women’s singles events. The WTA wants a 50/50 split, but the ATP disagrees. Earlier reports indicated ATP initially proposed an 80/20 revenue split.

The reason this merger is seen as beneficial to both parties is because “selling a unified media rights package is more appealing to broadcasters and would generate broader exposure.” Additionally, “cross-event TV and streaming sponsorship marketing would become possible, and commercial cooperation on data (such as selling scores and statistics to betting companies) would also be more valuable.”

If this merger comes to fruition, the new entity might be named “Tennis Ventures,” a suggestion made earlier this month by ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, who hopes the collaboration will be realized by 2027. “I am positive and optimistic. Although we are only a month and a half away from the ATP Finals, I believe once the remaining key issues are resolved, everything will proceed smoothly.”

As for tennis legends, they generally support this merger, including WTA icon Billie Jean King and ATP star Roger Federer. Billie Jean King has long wished for a merger of the men’s and women’s tennis tours, a vision rooted in her mind since founding the WTA in 1973.

Five years ago, when rumors of cooperation between the WTA and ATP first emerged, King expressed her excitement. According to a May 2020 Sky Sports report, she said: “I actually had the chance to talk with Roger. He told me that the idea came because he finally had the time and space to think about tennis as a whole, and that we must move forward as one.”

Her reaction was sparked by the merger idea proposed by the 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer. In early 2020, he wrote on social platform X: “I just want to ask... am I the only one who thinks now is the right time for men’s and women’s tennis to unite as one?”

In response, Billie Jean King said: “I completely agree, and I have been saying this since the early 1970s. Men’s and women’s tennis must have one unified voice — that has always been my vision for the sport. The WTA’s founding was just a ‘Plan B’ at the time. I’m glad we now share this consensus, so let’s make it happen together.”

Even 22-time Grand Slam champion, Federer’s longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal agrees with the idea. He wrote in reply: “Hey Roger, as we discussed before, I fully agree. Creating a unified organization through the merger of men’s and women’s tennis during this global crisis would be fantastic.”

Looking ahead, the progress of these merger negotiations remains worth watching. But the key question facing the tennis world is: Should men’s and women’s tennis really share a common “home”?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)