Thiem rejects plan to help lower ranked players

[AceSalvo]

a little tough to find but I the slams get a pretty sweet deal for the tournament.
They paid out $57 million last year
here's 2018:
Most Grand Slam revenue numbers are not made public, but the United States Tennis Association reported just over $380 million in U.S. Open revenue in 2018 and paid out $53 million in player compensation, which amounts to 13.94 percent of the total. The players get 14% of the tournament revenue. WT_?

In Tennis, Men and Women Are United in Looming Prize-Money Fight (Published 2019)

The players’ battle for a bigger piece of the pie at Grand Slam events is not a new one. What distinguishes the latest campaign is that it is a joint effort by men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Forget trying to make Thiem look bad. The slams are keeping all the money. that should go to lower ranked players. This should have been renegotiated a long time ago.
where's the protester professionals(Mac, Chrisssy and Martina) on this?

Yea, the disproportionate prize money distribution to the lower ranked players is till astounding especially with all the inflation.

 

[Bartelby]

The ATP lets the slams get away with it despite having some leverage.

The proposed 'gift' to lower-ranked players is quite small and not designed to address the larger issue.

With respect to the specific issue raised, Thiem is the problem.

I prefer pivoting towards the real culprits of greed. The slams!!
The whiners are not Thiems kids. Therefore no liability or responsibility. he is not a true big four either.
Then again, the USTA is not responsible for European players' success. European Tennis Federation is.

 

[Raul_SJ]

a little tough to find but I the slams get a pretty sweet deal for the tournament.
They paid out $57 million last year
here's 2018:
Most Grand Slam revenue numbers are not made public, but the United States Tennis Association reported just over $380 million in U.S. Open revenue in 2018 and paid out $53 million in player compensation, which amounts to 13.94 percent of the total. The players get 14% of the tournament revenue. WT_?

In Tennis, Men and Women Are United in Looming Prize-Money Fight (Published 2019)

The players’ battle for a bigger piece of the pie at Grand Slam events is not a new one. What distinguishes the latest campaign is that it is a joint effort by men and women.

www.nytimes.com

Forget trying to make Thiem look bad. The slams are keeping all the money. that should go to lower ranked players. This should have been renegotiated a long time ago.
where's the protester professionals(Mac, Chrisssy and Martina) on this?

Exactly. Reform the system.
Why aren't the Big Four calling for a unionization of the ATP players? Problem solved.

 

[Bartelby]

I really can't see you as a union man.

Exactly. Reform the system.
Why aren't the Big Four calling for a unionization of the ATP players? Problem solved.

 

[Deleted member 769694]

Back in February the word was that this was slightly worse than the flu, and your mentor said it was just another flu.

It turned out to be far more severe and far more aggressive, but the county that I am living in is under ... 100 dead ... so I am still not personally concerned.

I thought you were from austrialia, why are you listening to other countries leaders?

 

[Deleted member 735320]

The oligopoly power of the four slams is well-known and hard to dislodge, but it has nothing to do with Thiem's stinginess.

To be fair he may be very generous and anonymous. It is not his job to bankroll the lower ranks. He did raise his hand by commenting but I like him and until he kills someone on Fifth Avenue I am team Thiem.

 

[Bartelby]

You are speculating. He was not asked to bankroll anyone. He was asked for a small donation. He doesn't want to give, so be it.

But his reasons are fraudulent, so he is just being stingy.

To be fair he may be very generous and anonymous. It is not his job to bankroll the lower ranks. He did raise his hand by commenting but I like him and until he kills someone on Fifth Avenue I am team Thiem.

 

[Bartelby]

I'm actually in America.

I thought you were from austrialia, why are you listening to other countries leaders?

 

[Raul_SJ]

You are speculating. He was not asked to bankroll anyone. He was asked for a small donation. He doesn't want to give, so be it.
But his reasons are fraudulent, so he is just being stingy.

"Fraudulent and stingy?"
You are speculating and engaging in personal attacks. Thiem says he pefers to donate to the people most suffering in this crisis.
Thiem's donations to starving children will do far more good in this world than donating to ATP pros who are in no danger of starving.

"I'd rather donate to people & institutions, who really need it."
-- Dominick Thiem​

 

[Raul_SJ]

The proposed 'gift' to lower-ranked players is quite small and not designed to address the larger issue.
With respect to the specific issue raised, Thiem is the problem.

Indeed. It is not designed to address any problem. It is a meaningless grandstanding gesture by the Big Three that ignores the systemic root cause of the issue.
Let's focus on directing charity efforts to the true starving victims in this pandemic. The low tier players will best be served by reforming the system.

"If you're actually looking at the breakdown in money I think the top four or five guys could probably afford a little bit more than what they're going to give,"
-- Lleyton Hewitt​

"I look at someone who's worked extremely hard like James Duckworth," Hewitt said.
"In the last few years he's done everything right to give himself the best opportunity to get himself back in the top 100.
"He's making no money right now, he's running at a loss, yet the ATP want him to potentially donate five or ten thousand dollars to players ranked just outside 100.
"I don't think that sits well, I don't think it's going to get over the line with a lot of those lesser players."

Aussie poster boy for unfair Djokovic proposal

How $132 million gap exposes tennis megastar

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[Bartelby]

Thiem hasn't said he has donated anything. He only said he wouldn't donate it to his thiem mates.

So your nonsense about him donating to starving children is a lie.

Thiem's donations to starving children will do far more good in this world than donating to ATP pros who are in no danger of starving.

 

[Bartelby]

The structure of the tour is not the issue here as we are only discussing Thiem's reasons for refusing to donate.

Indeed. It is not designed to address any problem.

 

[Raul_SJ]

The structure of the tour is not the issue here as we are only discussing Thiem's reasons for refusing to donate.

Thiem and Hewitt say they want to "donate to people who really need it".
There is no crisis in the ATP. There is no need to donate for players touring expenses because... these players have nowhere to travel to. The vast majority plan to operate at a loss for 2020.
They are actually in less financial need now than in 2019. Ironic. But true as 99% of journeymen players below #200 do not come close to covering their expenses.
The crisis is in the outside world with people struggling just to eat and survive.
Clear-thinking players like Thiem and Hewitt understand this and see through this sham donation proposal.

As Hewitt points out, asking #83 James Duckworth, who is currently in the RED, to donate $5000 to lower ranked ATP players instead of 16 million starving children is offensive.

Let's direct the covid charity efforts towards the truly needy.

 

[Deleted member 769694]

I'm actually in America.

Well you said you were from austrialia in other threads for the past 15 yrs, never trust a liar.

 

[Bartelby]

Given you seem overly curious about matters that don't concern you, can I see your certificate of birth before responding futher?

Well you said you were from austrialia in other threads for the past 15 yrs, never trust a liar.

 

[Deleted member 769694]

Given you seem overly curious about matters that don't concern you, can I see your certificate of birth before responding futher?

It seems we have spoken many times but i still dont know the real bart

You can see me and watch play, yet your still a mystery

Are you hiding something, like in "The crying game" ?

 

[Raul_SJ]

Hewitt is a tax exile so his moral and ethical views are not worth much.

Novak Djokovic, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev, David Goffin, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych all live in Monte Carlo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils in Switzerland and Lucas Pouille in Dubai.

 

[AleksandarN]

I think I know what he means when he says some players lack professionalism- Tennis isnt like other sports. Ask your mom what she thinks if you told her youre gonna be a top 1000 ranked tennis player. She will likely take that to mean youre gonna be a bum who plays games too much while living off the family's coin.

There is not much room for "elite" players. No one is really interested in ranked 700 players and they do not contribute much to the sport. The supposition that it is an investment in the sport doesnt usually pan out. These guys have already hit their ceiling and will not get better. I would daresay that financial aid would simply encourage them to gatekeep, acting as a wall for young talent, stifling their growth.

They can contribute as much by playing the game for fun with local players as they could touring around trying desperately to score an ATP point.

You could also think that if you increase the pool of money to lower rankings and make money for players in top 1000 that would attract more people to the sport. Look at the nfl, basketball , baseball or soccer the top 1000 players in each sport make a lot of money. The pursuit of tennis is of a being rich man’s sport. Unless you are a top 100 player good luck trying survive.

 

[Bartelby]

This is irrelevant as they are not parading themselves as the saviours of starving children, are they?

Novak Djokovic, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev, David Goffin, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych all live in Monte Carlo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils in Switzerland and Lucas Pouille in Dubai.

 

[Bartelby]

I can't see any trace of your certificate of birth, so I think the chapter is closed.

It seems we have spoken many times but i still dont know the real bart

You can see me and watch play, yet your still a mystery

Are you hiding something, like in "The crying game" ?

 

[Deleted member 769694]

I can't see any trace of your certificate of birth, so I think the chapter is closed.

The "Chadter", my chatter cant stop, wont stop!!!

 

[Raul_SJ]

This is irrelevant as they are not parading themselves as the saviours of starving children, are they?

Wow, that is warped thinking. In your mind, it is just fine for Djoker to be a tax exile, as long as he donates.
But Hewitt is an immoral and unethical tax exile simply for not going along with your donation plan.
Hewitt being a "tax exile" is completely irrelevant to the donation issue.
Hewit & Thiem responded to the ATP request: they would prefer to donate to people that are truly needy over the touring ATP player.
We have presented you the case of #83 James Ducksworth, who is operating at a loss, and being asked to donate $5000 to ATP players.
Obviously such a player should not be asked to donate.
The world would be better off if people such as Duckworth donated to Unicef over the ATP.

 

[Enga]

You could also think that if you increase the pool of money to lower rankings and make money for players in top 1000 that would attract more people to the sport. Look at the nfl, basketball , baseball or soccer the top 1000 players in each sport make a lot of money. The pursuit of tennis is of a being rich man’s sport. Unless you are a top 100 player good luck trying survive.

The problem is tennis isnt a team sport. They tried to introduce team elements like davis cup and even new additions like laver cup but no one is really interested unless a top player is playing, because at its heart tennis is a duelling sport. In other sports, even if youre not the star athlete carrying the team to victory, you're still needed because thats what team is about, and contributions that go unnoticed can make a huge difference for the team. This makes team sports more popular because everyone can contribute. Its just not the case for tennis, you either win or lose. Other players really only exist to expound on the top player's superiority. You just need some guys for the top guys to crush so that you know theyre the best. You have to look at duelling sports/games like chess and fighting to really compare.

 

[blablavla]

I believe it’s the country a player pays taxes to that should give the players support when they can’t work. It’s part of the point of paying taxes in the first place.

the bigger point is that players below top 150 or top 200 burn cash even without pandemic.
and I doubt that they can actually change the situation, so now it's the time to demand some changes and indeed, it should be coming from ATP/WTA/ITF not from past earnings of top players

 

[blablavla]

You cant be entitled when your doing the work.

Btw lesser players often have private sponsorship. The late dr guttman in orlando used to sponsor all sorts of guys from other countrys that were poor. He would house, feed and pay their expensis. There are alot of guys like that out there.

Players can also teach or become hitting partners. Bobby blair (hiding in the baseline) wasnt good enough to make it, so he was martina nav travel partner, another buddy of mine rodrigo the same, was with aranxcha sanches travelling. A buddy of mine who works at my club also a super great player but not good enough to get those pts, he was roddicks partner for 3 yrs.

Robert Kendrick (5 sets vs nadal wimbledon) was head pro at a very nice club here, nice guy. He was making a ton at the finest club in orlando

James blake came to my club one day and didnt have anyone to play with, Simeon made $150 to play with him for an hour and half (have to pay for liability).

Ton of ways for tennis players to make money outside of tournaments. They are great players, ppl wanna take lessons, Roscoe Tanner came here for some opens and ended up making more clinic money than prize money

try to imagine that if you are the #151 top basketball player, or football player, or volleyball player or handball player or mini-football, ice hockey player you have to go to work in the local club or factory or McDonalds or whatever.
why tennis should accept this?
I doubt that people line up in ques to watch a basketball game if you tell them: hey, tonight pros ranked between 900 - 1500 will be playing. Come in, pay your ticket money, buy some food and enjoy some mediocre journeyman game* (when compared to the top of the respective sport)

 

[blablavla]

Pro tennis is a sport for individuals, so you never have to worry about being cut from the team.

At the top of the game, tennis is the ultimate meritocracy, but once you go outside the top 500, the opposite is true.

With enough outside funding and some good fortune, people with no ability to compete at the top 100 level of the game can still "make a go of it" and mess around on the fringe of the sport for decades.

Pro tennis still has multiple generations of these "hobbyist pros". They draw on tournament resources but are not on an upward trajectory, and don't bring money into the game.

A few years ago, The ATP made some tour changes that were designed to stop future generations of hobbyist pros breaking into the men's side of the sport. It's pretty clear they don't want them, nor do tournament organisers.

The ATP has been ruthless here. Amidst the massive hit it has taken as an organisation during the shutdown, there is no doubt an interest in whether this current situation forces a whole class of "hobbyist pros" off the tour to look for income streams in other areas of tennis once the shutdown is over.

It's definitely a hostile environment for the class of tennis players that Thiem is talking about, but he points to a relevant economic reality with his comments. Most of these players have phenomenal support networks, and there are far more deserving cases for CoViD-19 related relief.

imagine a world where pro sport is limited to top 100 athletes or 150 or 500 in the according sport.
try to imagine the level of play at the world championship at Basketball or Ice Hockey, or many other sports.
why tennis should settle for such logic?

ATP tried to reduce the number but failed ridiculously.
In the first place they failed because they tried to mask a decrease in number of pro tennis players by bla bla bla about faster tracks for talented players, when in fact they simply made it more complicated for everyone to obtain ATP points, including the talented players.
In this case, ATP and ITF shall come out and say: dear world, we only have money to support top 100 or top 150 players at the top of the mountain, because we are so busy with promoting the Big 3. Everyone else shall look for other business because we don't care.

 

[blablavla]

What do the tennis players need money for now when they aren’t travelling anyway? They are getting money from the state, staying home.
People who lost their jobs now in various businesses ain’t getting any money from their previous employers. I don’t see why tennis players should get special treatment.

not every country is generous with help these days.
just keep in mind that there is a big world out there outside US and some wealthy EU countries.

 

[Raul_SJ]

try to imagine that if you are the #151 top basketball player, or football player, or volleyball player or handball player or mini-football, ice hockey player you have to go to work in the local club or factory or McDonalds or whatever.
why tennis should accept this?
I doubt that people line up in ques to watch a basketball game if you tell them: hey, tonight pros ranked between 900 - 1500 will be playing. Come in, pay your ticket money, buy some food and enjoy some mediocre journeyman game* (when compared to the top of the respective sport)

Each sport is different. And a team sport is very different from an individual sport. Fans will pay to see the best teams, which will compromise of the best 500 players.
The #100 pitcher in baseball will still earn millions. The #100 tennis player will earn less than $0.

Fans will NOT pay to see the #200 player. These lower tier players are completely interchangeable and replaceable.
Tennis is driven by the top 50 players.

 

[blablavla]

Each sport is different. And a team sport is very different from an individual sport. Fans will pay to see the best teams, which will compromise of the best 500 players.
The #100 pitcher in baseball will still earn millions. The #100 tennis player will earn less than $0.

Fans will NOT pay to see the #200 player. These lower tier players are completely interchangeable and replaceable.
Tennis is driven by the top 50 players.

well, your logic is deeply flawed.
fans actually gather to watch teams that are not top and feature average players.
perhaps the commercial problem of tennis is this "let's promote the Big 3"?
and the result that people don't care about anything else and call top athletes: "journeyman", "mug", "clown", "pigeon", and then go the next step and call US Open "Berrettini Open"?

why should tennis pro players accept your logic?
imagine that during this crisis, everyone below #150 will drop tennis. Whom will you be watching in competitions 3 years down the line? 5 years down the line? 10 years down the line?
a 56 years old Federer competing in the Wimbledon final vs 48 years old Nadal fighting for the Grand Slam title #187?
that will be a very interesting and commercially viable future.

 

[Raul_SJ]

well, your logic is deeply flawed.
fans actually gather to watch teams that are not top and feature average players.
perhaps the commercial problem of tennis is this "let's promote the Big 3"?
and the result that people don't care about anything else and call top athletes: "journeyman", "mug", "clown", "pigeon", and then go the next step and call US Open "Berrettini Open"?

Fans will pay $50 to watch minor league baseball and $500 for major league. That is why minor league players are paid very little while major league players earn millions.
Likewise, these #500 players play in the satellite tournaments which generate far less ticket revenue. The free market determines their value.

 

[Bartelby]

There is usually one monopoly provider of matches in elite sporting competitions, so the free market is not completely relevant.

We don't have three or more businesses putting on an Olympics in competition with each other, after all.

Fans will pay $5 to watch minor league baseball and $500 for major league. That is why minor league players are paid very little while major league players earn millions.
Likewise, these #500 players play in the satellite tournaments which generate far less ticket revenue. The free market determines their value.

 

[blablavla]

Fans will pay $5 to watch minor league baseball and $500 for major league. That is why minor league players are paid very little while major league players earn millions.
Likewise, these #500 players play in the satellite tournaments which generate far less ticket revenue. The free market determines their value.

let's not talk about the free market.
there are so many examples when certain countries talk about the free market ONLY when it benefits them, and then all of a sudden switch to national security or other arguments when they are losing in the "free market" that this is beyond ridiculous.

I do believe that if ITF + ATP wanted, the earnings of lower level pros would be covering their expenses.
But hey, why give them money when they are happy to compete for prize money set some 30-40 years ago? and never adjusted?
If ITF + ATP wanted to sell tennis at all levels, they would find a way. In case of lack of ideas, just check what other sports are doing where pros ranked below #1000 are doing well.
Why tennis world should accept current situation?

 

[Raul_SJ]

let's not talk about the free market.
there are so many examples when certain countries talk about the free market ONLY when it benefits them, and then all of a sudden switch to national security or other arguments when they are losing in the "free market" that this is beyond ridiculous.

I do believe that if ITF + ATP wanted, the earnings of lower level pros would be covering their expenses.
But hey, why give them money when they are happy to compete for prize money set some 30-40 years ago? and never adjusted?
If ITF + ATP wanted to sell tennis at all levels, they would find a way. In case of lack of ideas, just check what other sports are doing where pros ranked below #1000 are doing well.
Why tennis world should accept current situation?

Somebody posted that only 14% of the $380 million U.S. Open revenue goes to the players.
Let the Big Three campaign for revenue sharing instead of asking the #100 player already earning nothing to donate $5000 to #200-#500 player.
That is what Hewitt and Thiem are saying. And of course they are absolutely correct!

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

not every country is generous with help these days.
just keep in mind that there is a big world out there outside US and some wealthy EU countries.

Then they can get help, not Europe, USA and Australia. Having said that many players come from fairly wealthy families, in S America for example. It’s far from every lower ranked player that struggles now.

 

[heninfan99]

The general reaction was undoubtedly negative.

That correlates highly with being right, especially in all things tennis related.

 

[blablavla]

Then they can get help, not Europe, USA and Australia. Having said that many players come from fairly wealthy families, in S America for example. It’s far from every lower ranked player that struggles now.

look, there certainly are some players that pursue their dream simply because they are from wealthy families.
not arguing here.

but there are as well players that are from "average" families, that pursue their dream.
I know at least 1 guy from who in the recent years was inside top 50.
Trust me, his family is not reach by any means.
He was lucky to make it in spite of many circumstances.
But there are many others that are great athletes and don't have the wealthy family behind their back.
And if you are not from US, or selected EU countries, perhaps Australia and Canada, there is nobody to support you now. And working in the local club is not an option, as they are closed.

Perhaps if tennis career would pay off better, there would be much more competition now, and we wouldn't see the Big 3 dominating everything.
Beyond this top 100 guy, I also know folks that decided to NOT even try to become tennis pro, as chances are against you.
And I know very solid juniors who as well won't even try at the pro level, because the chance to success is so slim.
Better pay-off is not necessarily more prize money to GS winners.
Better pay-off is making sure that pros in the lower ranks, for example 150-500 have a decent income.

 

[blablavla]

Somebody posted that only 14% of the $380 million U.S. Open revenue goes to the players.
Let the Big Three campaign for revenue sharing instead of asking the #100 player already earning nothing to donate $5000 to #200-#500 player.
That is what Hewitt and Thiem are saying. And of course they are absolutely correct!

I didn't say that Thiem has to support lower ranked players from his pocket.
or that Federer + Djokovic + Nadal must support them.

What I say is that ATP + WTA + ITF have to do it, instead of promoting the Big 3 and GS race

 

[Raul_SJ]

I didn't say that Thiem has to support lower ranked players from his pocket.
or that Federer + Djokovic + Nadal must support them.

What I say is that ATP + WTA + ITF have to do it, instead of promoting the Big 3 and GS race

The Big Three's proposal asks for donations from the Top 100 to the rest of the 500. Even the #100 is not breaking even, but he is being asked to donate $5000.
Thiem is saying that the Big Three should reform the system and fight for revenue sharing.

 

[blablavla]

The Big Three's proposal asks for donations from the Top 100 to the rest of the 500. Even the #100 is not breaking even, but he is being asked to donate $5000.
Thiem is saying that the Big Three should reform the system and fight for revenue sharing.

well, the big 3 are the biggest "beneficiary" of what ATP did.
The prize money paid in the Big 3 era increased like never before.
And the endorsements as well.

So, if they want to support the players that are less fortunate -> I can only applaud it.
If other players want to join this movement -> I can only applaud it.
But other players must have the option to say "no", without repressions.

It is ATP + WTA + ITF responsibility to ensure that players earn enough prize money at all levels.
Or say in public that tennis can only finance top 150 players, everyone else is welcome to burn money in the pursuit of a dream.
But then don't be surprised why there are so many lost generations and nobody can fight the Big 3.

 

[Raul_SJ]

So, if they want to support the players that are less fortunate -> I can only applaud it.
If other players want to join this movement -> I can only applaud it.

Thiem says if the Big Three are truly interested in helping and solving the issue, let them reform the revenue sharing.
This "donation plan" from fellow players is a gimmick and solves nothing, which is why Thiem objects to it.
ATP players are not most in need during covid. Children are in need. Even animals are more in need.

"There are people, organizations or animals that need our help much more than probably any athlete."

But other players must have the option to say "no", without repressions.

Too late. Thiem has been blasted for his views.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

look, there certainly are some players that pursue their dream simply because they are from wealthy families.
not arguing here.

but there are as well players that are from "average" families, that pursue their dream.
I know at least 1 guy from who in the recent years was inside top 50.
Trust me, his family is not reach by any means.
He was lucky to make it in spite of many circumstances.
But there are many others that are great athletes and don't have the wealthy family behind their back.
And if you are not from US, or selected EU countries, perhaps Australia and Canada, there is nobody to support you now. And working in the local club is not an option, as they are closed.

Perhaps if tennis career would pay off better, there would be much more competition now, and we wouldn't see the Big 3 dominating everything.
Beyond this top 100 guy, I also know folks that decided to NOT even try to become tennis pro, as chances are against you.
And I know very solid juniors who as well won't even try at the pro level, because the chance to success is so slim.
Better pay-off is not necessarily more prize money to GS winners.
Better pay-off is making sure that pros in the lower ranks, for example 150-500 have a decent income.

The problem is that they don’t earn enough when they are on tour. The gap is so big which also contribute worse competition.
Personally I think it’s time the top players have more restrictions. Not allowed to travel w huge teams for example. Some travel with lots of family and various coaches and support. It’s bad for the environment, carbon print for some players are gigantic, and it’s also bad for the competition. Some players travel alone. This gives the top players even more advantage.

Then we have the prize money of course that has to be distributed to all players on tour.
We need ALL players on tour. The lower ranked are just as important as the top ones. It wouldn’t even be a sport and tour of the lower ranked wasn’t there. It’s almost like the lower ranked is playing for some scheme that only some benefit from.

Tennis need a new fresh outlook more aligned for the times we are living in. Merging ATP and WTA could be the first step.

 

[blablavla]

The problem is that they don’t earn enough when they are on tour. The gap is so big which also contribute worse completion.
Personally I think it’s time the top players have more restrictions. Not allowed to travel w huge teams for example. Some travel with lots of family and various coaches and support. It’s bad for the environment, carbon print for some players are gigantic, and it’s also bad for the competition. Some players travel alone.

Then we have the prize money of course that has to be distributed to all players on tour.
We need ALL players on tour. The lower ranked are just as important as the top ones. It wouldn’t even be a sport and tour of the lower ranked wasn’t there. It’s almost like the lower ranked is playing for some scheme that only some benefit from.

Tennis need a new fresh outlook more aligned for the times we are living in. Merging ATP and WTA could be the first step.

merging ATP with WTA won't solve anything.
There is already ITF that combines men + women + juniors plus whatever is not mentioned.
And honestly ATP did a good job at commercializing tennis, but a terrible job as a union of players or as a watchdog for lower ranked players.
So what precisely will this merger solve?
And why lower ranked players have to wait for the merger

this merger is simply an attempt to shift attention from one problem to another.
but shifting attention doesn't solve any problem.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

merging ATP with WTA won't solve anything.
There is already ITF that combines men + women + juniors plus whatever is not mentioned.
And honestly ATP did a good job at commercializing tennis, but a terrible job as a union of players or as a watchdog for lower ranked players.
So what precisely will this merger solve?
And why lower ranked players have to wait for the merger

this merger is simply an attempt to shift attention from one problem to another.
but shifting attention doesn't solve any problem.

I think it’s a good idea to work as one, cause these problems w uneven prize money is in WTA as well.

 

[blablavla]

I think it’s a good idea to work as one, cause these problems w uneven prize money is in WTA as well.

it's a good idea to work.
all the tools are on the table today.

re-organization is a shift of focus.
later people will be busy with other things.

tell, me what precisely ITF is lacking so, that we need to hope that a merger between ATP and WTA will solve something.
by the way, what precisely shall this merger solve?

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

it's a good idea to work.
all the tools are on the table today.

re-organization is a shift of focus.
later people will be busy with other things.

tell, me what precisely ITF is lacking so, that we need to hope that a merger between ATP and WTA will solve something.
by the way, what precisely shall this merger solve?

It will generate more money to the sport, better logistics and a fresher outlook as well. If the prize money and to make more players from non rich background on tour, the whole “tennis is for rich people”, and tennis “is a classic gentleman sport” needs to fade out and go.
The play styles and most of the tennis players aren’t like grass masters in piquet shirts anyway. It’s a tough grind sport and not “gentleman’s” sports anymore. We have to make tennis outlook more up to date what the sport has actually become. It’s not more classy or anything like that than any other sport. It’s a tough sport.

To have separate tours and organisations for men and women is old fashioned and not suitable for these times we are living in.

 

[blablavla]

It will generate more money to the sport, better logistics and a fresher outlook as well. If the prize money and to make more players from non rich background on tour, the whole “tennis is for rich people”, and tennis “is a classic gentleman sport” needs to fade out and go.
The play styles and most of the tennis players aren’t like grass masters in piquet shirts anyway. It’s a tough grind sport and not “gentleman’s” sports anymore. We have to make tennis more up to date what the sport has actually become.

I hope you do understand that in real world out there, a merger between ATP and WTA won't make sponsors willing to pay more.
Would you pay more for a tennis TV subscription because ATP and WTA merged?

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

I hope you do understand that in real world out there, a merger between ATP and WTA won't make sponsors willing to pay more.
Would you pay more for a tennis TV subscription because ATP and WTA merged?

It will save resources and money to merge it. It also will make tennis as a sport more robust. God knows what will happen when Fedal retires. Can be like it has been before and WTA becomes stronger again. To be together makes both stronger.
Seems most players want this too, players who are on tour and knows how things are done.
I truly believe that Fed Rafa and all the players that want to merge are saying this cause they know it will benefit the sport overall. If there is anyone that knows the best, it’s the players on tour. Not us.

 

[blablavla]

It will save resources and money to merge it. It also will make tennis as a sport more robust. God knows what will happen when Fedal retires. Can be like it has been before and WTA becomes stronger again. To be together makes both stronger.
Seems most players want this too, players who are on tour and knows how things are done.
I truly believe that Fed Rafa and all the players that want to merge are saying this cause they know it will benefit the sport overall. If there is anyone that knows the best, it’s the players on tour. Not us.

it won't.
it won't become cheaper to host a GS, as they are already combined.

show me the money.
from where there will be an increase in revenues
and from where costs will be cut
real-life scenarios please