According to a media report, the professional tennis organizations for men (ATP) and women (WTA) are discussing a merger.
The Telegraph reported that a two-day summit will be held in London at the end of September to discuss this issue.
It was also said that the organizations were also driven to take this step by fear of Saudi Arabia’s increased influence in world tennis and of the kingdom’s own series of tournaments, such as in the Gulf. The ATP and WTA were asked to comment at the US Open in New York.
The tours apart from the four Grand Slams for women and men are traditionally organized by different organizations. Both ATP and WTA have their own sponsors and TV contracts. This is one of the reasons why the prize money for women players for comparable tournaments over the season is significantly lower than for their male colleagues. A merger could lead to alignment, as is already the case with the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open and some Masters.
Debate about unification has been around for a long time
A joint organization has been debated in world tennis for a long time. “Am I the only one who thinks it’s time for men’s and women’s tennis to unite,” superstar Roger Federer wrote in 2020 on Twitter at the time.
Tennis icon Billie Jean King, who helped found the WTA 50 years ago, replied to the Swiss: “I agree and I’ve said that since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together, has long been my vision for Tennis.”