ATP and WTA could merge

[sureshs]

tennisnow.com:

According to a new article from The Telegraph, officials from both tours will convene next month in London to discuss a potential merger as a response to growing interest and influence from Saudi Arabia in the sport. ATP Tour Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and WTA Tour Chief Executive Officer Steve Simon, along with other tour officials, will be at the meeting.

The meeting will take place as Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting more tournaments and potentially creating its own tour to rival the ATP Tour and WTA Tour continues, which has created debate among officials and players. Both tours are hoping to avoid the controversy that the recent LIV Golf tour has endured, also backed by Saudi interests.

Saudi Arabian organizers recently announced that the Next Gen ATP Finals would be hosted in Jeddah as part of a new five-year deal starting in 2023.

 

[aus89]

Just packaging the deal for the Saudis so it's neater for them imo - don't think the ATP or WTA really care about Saudi's human rights and climate issues.

 

[Nostradamus]

tennisnow.com:

According to a new article from The Telegraph, officials from both tours will convene next month in London to discuss a potential merger as a response to growing interest and influence from Saudi Arabia in the sport. ATP Tour Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and WTA Tour Chief Executive Officer Steve Simon, along with other tour officials, will be at the meeting.

The meeting will take place as Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting more tournaments and potentially creating its own tour to rival the ATP Tour and WTA Tour continues, which has created debate among officials and players. Both tours are hoping to avoid the controversy that the recent LIV Golf tour has endured, also backed by Saudi interests.

Saudi Arabian organizers recently announced that the Next Gen ATP Finals would be hosted in Jeddah as part of a new five-year deal starting in 2023.

so they would be playing mixed doubles alot ?

 

[Purestriker]

tennisnow.com:

According to a new article from The Telegraph, officials from both tours will convene next month in London to discuss a potential merger as a response to growing interest and influence from Saudi Arabia in the sport. ATP Tour Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and WTA Tour Chief Executive Officer Steve Simon, along with other tour officials, will be at the meeting.

The meeting will take place as Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting more tournaments and potentially creating its own tour to rival the ATP Tour and WTA Tour continues, which has created debate among officials and players. Both tours are hoping to avoid the controversy that the recent LIV Golf tour has endured, also backed by Saudi interests.

Saudi Arabian organizers recently announced that the Next Gen ATP Finals would be hosted in Jeddah as part of a new five-year deal starting in 2023.

Good on merger news.

 

[big ted]

they should let the saudis create their own tour so we can see which players are $ hungry traitors.

 

[sureshs]

they should let the saudis create their own tour so we can see which players are $ hungry traitors.

Golf tried it, and ultimately all were found to be traitors.

Nothing wrong with going for the money. Why do you think the ATP recently announced the minimum salary of 75K $ for the top 250 players? Because of fear of the Saudi tour.

If the Saudis offer a good minimum salary, free flights, food and accommodations, and health insurance, there is no reason for a player not to take the offer.

 

[Purestriker]

Golf tried it, and ultimately all were found to be traitors.

Nothing wrong with going for the money. Why do you think the ATP recently announced the minimum salary of 75K $ for the top 250 players? Because of fear of the Saudi tour.

If the Saudis offer a good minimum salary, free flights, food and accommodations, and health insurance, there is no reason for a player not to take the offer.

I agree, but I think a lot would depend upon on where the new tour would be held.

 

[big ted]

Golf tried it, and ultimately all were found to be traitors.

Nothing wrong with going for the money. Why do you think the ATP recently announced the minimum salary of 75K $ for the top 250 players? Because of fear of the Saudi tour.

If the Saudis offer a good minimum salary, free flights, food and accommodations, and health insurance, there is no reason for a player not to take the offer.

ATP could make a rule you cant play both tours. then players would have to choose between playing GS events or the LIV cup lol..
i can see lower ranked players jumping ship becuz theyre arent going to win grand slam tournaments anyway.. even scrubs like kyrgios and tsitsipas lol

 

[Bartelby]

It's amazing how, when push comes to shove, people prefer protectionism to competition.

 

[sureshs]

ATP could make a rule you cant play both tours. then players would have to choose between playing GS events or the LIV cup lol..
i can see lower ranked players jumping ship becuz theyre arent going to win grand slam tournaments anyway.. even scrubs like kyrgios and tsitsipas lol

No. Grand Slams are run by the ITF.

 

[sureshs]

I agree, but I think a lot would depend upon on where the new tour would be held.

That is what I am also waiting to see. I assume that the tournaments will be held in cities around the world, with a slightly disproportionate number in Saudi Arabia.

 

[big ted]

No. Grand Slams are run by the ITF.

they're still a part of the ATP tour

 

[Bartelby]

A merger between the two bodies could spell the end of "equal pay" discussions around here. They might have to close the place due to lack of interest.

 

[jackson vile]

The WTA needs to stop riding the gravy train at the cost of the ATP

Men sports meed to 100% disassociate from female sports as the female sport vampire from the male sports

Everyone needs to be accountable for their own successes failures

 

[Bartelby]

Women attract less money but in a combined organisation the growth will more than compensate.

 

[sureshs]

Women attract less money but in a combined organisation the growth will more than compensate.

Correct. Personally, I prefer to watch women anytime but not everyone here is like that and I respect that.